I’ll Have Another spoiled Derby favorite Bodemeister’s strong bid at Churchill Downs on May 5th and he thwarted the colt’s run at the Preakness Stakes almost three weeks ago, but the Doug O’Neill trained colt will go from being the hunter to the hunted at Belmont Park this weekend.

After winning both the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes, I’ll Have Another wears the favorite target and there is no Bodemeister in the field this time around. Among those vying to derail I’ll Have Another’s Triple Crown bid are Derby runners Union Rags, Dullahan, and Optimizer as well as two horses with quality distance pedigrees in Paynter and Street Life.

Union Rags, one of the Derby favorites, finished an unexpected seventh at Churchill Downs and it did not run at the Preakness. Prior to the Derby, Union Rags, who is trained by Michael Matz (also trained 2006 Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro), had never finished worse than third.

Dullahan finished third at Churchill Downs after making a late charge similar to the one I’ll Have Another now famously showcased in catching Bodemeister. The Dale Romans’ pupil, a winner in the Grade 1 Blue Grass Stakes as well as the Breeders’ Futurity, also possesses a notable distance pedigree. The colt’s bloodlines include 1990 Kentucky Derby winner Unbridled and Mr. Prospector. Mr. Prospector’s descendants include Belmont winners Empire Maker, Hansel, Birdstone, Summer Bird, Thunder Gulch, Point Given, Afleet Alex, Drosselmeyer, Victory Gallop, Conquistador Cielo, Commendable, Editor’s Note, Jazil, Lemon Drop Kid, and Ruler On Ice.

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2012 Belmont Stakes Contenders: Provided by SBG Global

I’ll Have Another +125
Dullahan +400
Union Rags +400
Paynter +800
Street Life +1250
Unstoppable U +2800
Atigun +3000
Optimizer +3000
Five Sixteen +4500
Guyana Star Dweej +4500
Revelo’s Boy +4500

Went the Day Well was by no means an afterthought heading into the Kentucky Derby, but nor was the colt on the forefront of many minds at 20 to 1 odds to win the Run for the Roses. However, after its impressive fourth place finish at Churchill Downs, some are beginning to take notice of the H. Graham Motion (trained 2011 Kentucky Derby winner Animal Kingdom) trainee.

Went the Day Well possesses a championship pedigree as its bloodlines feature 2002 Derby runner up Proud Citizen, multiple graded stakes winner Tiznow, and the legendary Mr. Prospector. The colt also lacks the wear and tear of some of the other contenders in Saturday’s Preakness Stakes, having participated in just four races.

Went the Day Well needed two shots to break his maiden, but after doing so in early March the colt won the Grade 3 Spiral Stakes (1 1/8 miles) before finishing just out of the money at Churchill Downs.

Piloting Went the Day Well tomorrow is veteran jockey John Velazquez. Velazquez, who guided Animal Kingdom to victory at Churchill Downs last year, is a Preakness Stakes title away from completing his own personal Triple Crown. The Puerto Rican born rider won the Belmont  Stakes in 2007 aboard filly Rags to Riches.

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Went the Day Well Odds 2012 Preakness Stakes Bets: Provided by TopBet.com

Went the Day Well (Post #8) +600 (To Win the 2012 Preakness Stakes)

While either Bodemeister or I’ll Have Another is expected to win the 2012 Preakness Stakes, these events do not always go according to plan. Certainly it appears those two are the ones to beat with the field consisting of only 11 contenders, but there are other winning candidates set to run in tomorrow’s big race.

Teeth of the Dog, a non-Derby runner, could be a factor and, at +1300 odds ($1300 return for every $100 wagered), is worth some consideration. The colt has tremendous pedigree (son of Bluegrass Cat, a multiple graded stakes winner who took second in both the 2006 Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes) and is lightly raced. Since breaking his maiden in in early February, Teeth of the Dog took third behind Derby entrants Gemologist and Alpha at the Grade 1 Wood Memorial.

Creative Cause and Went the Day Well are also considered potential upset winners. Both colts, who are listed at +600 odds to win the Preakness Stakes, finished just out of the money at Churchill Downs two weekends ago, finishing fourth (Went the Day Well) and fifth (Creative Cause).

Some horse racing prognosticators are also high on Daddy Nose Best (+1300). The 10th place Derby finisher won back to back Grade 3 races prior to the its run at Churchill Downs. The colt’s pedigree includes 1995 Derby winner Thunder Gulch and the great Mr. Prospector (descendants include multiple Triple Crown race winners, such as Real Quiet, Empire Maker, Mine That Bird, Smarty Jones, Funny Cide, and Afleet Alex).

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2012 Preakness Stakes Odds and Post Draw:

1. Tiger Walk +2500
2. Teeth of the Dog +1300
3. Pretension +3000
4. Zetterholm +1800
5. Went the Day Well +600
6. Creative Cause +600
7. Bodemeister +150
8. Daddy Nose Best +1300
9. I’ll Have Another +200
10. Optimizer +2500
11. Cozzetti +3000

Creative Cause suffered the worst finish of its career at Churchill Downs two weekends ago, but given the impressive Derby field, the colt’s fifth place showing was anything but disastrous. In fact, the horse’s Kentucky Derby result has many believing a Preakness Stakes win is not out of the question.

The weekend’s field is significantly smaller and should one of the favorites (Bodemeister, I’ll Have Another) fail to perform, the Mike Harrington trained colt could be in position to take the race. Prior to the Derby, Creative Cause had never finished worst than third despite running in four Grade 1 and three Grade 2 events; a track record that suggests it will be there at the end on Saturday.

Creative Cause will be piloted by first time Preakness runner Joel Rosario. The Dominican native has been aboard the for its last six races, and he guided Creative Cause to win the Norfolk Stakes (G1) and San Felipe Stakes (G2). Prior to the Derby, Rosario and Creative Cause placed second to Kentucky Derby winner I’ll Have Another in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby.

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Creative Cause Odds 2012 Preakness Stakes Predictions: Provided by SBG Global

#6 Creative Cause +600 (To Win the 2012 Preakness Stakes)

Bodemeister, along with Union Rags, entered the 2012 Kentucky Derby as a 9 to 2 favorite; it nearly lived up to expectations. The bay colt jumped out to an early lead  at Churchill Downs and appeared unrestrained by jockey Mike Smith for most of the 1 1/4 miles race.

The freewheeling jaunt looked as though it would pay off, but Bodemeister began to tired down the back stretch, leaving room for Post 19 starter I’ll Have Another to come from the outside and win the 138th Kentucky Derby.

Perhaps Smith and Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert, who owns five Preakness Stakes titles, will change up the strategy some for Saturday’s race at Pimlico. However, with the Preakness ( 1 3/16 miles) being slightly shorter than the Derby, they may not alter it a great deal.

Bodemeister, who won the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby prior to his second place run at Churchill Downs, will start the Preakness from Post #7, a gate which has yielded three of the last eight winners, including Smarty Jones and Big Brown, in the prestigious race. Baffert seemed pleased with the draw.

“I think its a good post,” Baffert said. “With him, anything in the middle would have been fine. In the Preakness you just don’t want to be stuck down on the inside, where you have to use your horse a little bit.”

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Bodemeister Odds 2012 Preakness Stakes Bets: Provided by Bovada.lv

#7 Bodemeister 7/4 (To Win the 2012 Preakness Stakes)

I’ll Have Another carried a two race win streak into the 2012 Kentucky Derby; however, despite its run of success, many feared the colt would be hindered by its Post 19 start. The Doug O’Neill trained horse proved those concerns illegitimate by running past Derby favorite Bodemeister on the back stretch to win the 138th Run for the Roses.

I’ll Have Another, who was piloted by a first time Derby jockey in Mario Gutierrez, finished the 1 1/4 miles race in 2:01.83, which happened to be the fastest winning time since Big Brown ran a 2:01.82 in 2008. The colt’s victory returned $32.50 for every $2.00 wagered on an I’ll Have Another win.

Prior to its successful Derby run, I’ll Have Another took first at the Grade 2 Robert B. Lewis Stakes and the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby. A win on Saturday would not only keep its win streak in tact, but, more importantly, would put it in position to make a run at the coveted Triple Crown (colt is currently drawing +600 odds to win the Triple Crown Series).

The competition figures to be fierce, though, as Bodemeister and a handful of other solid Derby runners are also part of the 2012 Preakness Stakes field. Tune in Saturday at 4:30pm ET to the NBC Sports Network to see if I’ll Have Another preserves its run at history.

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I’ll Have Another Odds 2012 Preakness Stakes Picks: Provided by SBG Global

I’ll Have Another +200 (To Win 2012 Preakness Stakes)

Daddy Nose Best Odds 2012 Kentucky Derby Predictions: Daddy Nose Best has won two straight Grade 3 Preps, the Sunland Derby at Sunland Park and El Camino Real Derby at Golden Gate Park in California. The colt has finished in the money in three of his last four races, counting the two mentioned and in the Summer Stakes at Woodbine, also a G3 event. However, didn’t look too good in his only G1 race, the 2011  Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf. Daddy Nose Best is trained by Steve Asmussen who trained back to back horse of the year’s Curlin and Rachel Alexandra. Aboard Daddy Nose Best will be Garrett Gomez out of Post 10.

Daddy Nose Best is owned by Cathy and Bob Zopllars. The Zollars have previously been represented in the Kentucky Derby with Fifty Stars and Private Emblem . In addition to those stable stars the Zollars have also campaigned top stakes winners Real Dandy and Thiskyhasnolimit. Post time for the 2012 Kentucky Derby will go at 6:20 p.m. and will be televised on NBC.

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2012 Kentucky Derby Gate and Morning Line

Gate – Jockey, Trainer, Odds
1  Daddy Long Legs, Colm O’Donoghue, Aidan O’Brien, 30/1
2  Optimizer, Jon Court, D. Wayne Lucas 40/1
3  Take Charge Indy, Calvin Borel, Patrick Byrne, 12/1
4  Union Rags, Julien Leparoux, Michael Matz, 9/2
5  Dullahan , Kent Desormeaux, Dale Romans, 8/1
6  Bodemeister, Mike Smith, Bob Baffert, 9/2
7  Rousing Sermon, Jose Lezcano, Jerry Hollendorfer 40/1
8  Creative Cause, Joel Rosario, Mike Harrington 12/1
9  Trinniberg, Willie Martinez, Bisnath Parboo, 40/1
10 Daddy Nose Best, Garrett Gomez, Steve Asmussen 14/1
11 Alpha, Rajiv Maragh, Kiaran McLaughlin , 14/1
12 Prospective, Luis Contreras, Mark Casse,35/1
13 Went The Day Well, John Velazquez, H Graham Motion, 25/1
14 Hansen, Ramon Dominguez, Make Maker, 11/1
15 Gemologist, Javier Castellano, Todd Pletcher, 13/2
16 El Padrino, Rafael Bejarano, Todd Pletcher, 25/1
17 Done Talking, Sheldon Russell, Hamilton Smith 40/1
18 Sabercat, Corey Nakatani, Steve Asmussen, 35/1
19 I’ll Have Another, Mario Gutierrez, Doug O’Neil,  14/1
20 Liason, Martin Garcia, Bob Baffert, 50/1

Alpha is trained by Kiaran McLaughlin who learned the ropes from Hall of Famer D. Wayne Lukas. McLaughlin went on his own training in the United Arab Emirates before returning to the USA with his own stable of horses. He has one win in a Triple Crown leg with Jazil in 2006 and scored big in the 2006 Breeders Cup with Horse of the Year Invasor who also won the Dubai World Cup in 2007. On board is Jockey Rajiv Maragh from Jamaica. His first winner came aboard Pricedale Kid in 2004 at Tampa Bay Downs.

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2012 Kentucky Derby Gate and Morning Line

Gate – Jockey, Trainer, Odds
1  Daddy Long Legs, Colm O’Donoghue, Aidan O’Brien, 30/1
2  Optimizer, Jon Court, D. Wayne Lukas 50/1
3  Take Charge Indy, Calvin Borel, Patrick Byrne, 15/1
4  Union Rags, Julien Leparoux, Michael Matz, 9/2
5  Dullahan , Kent Desormeaux, Dale Romans, 8/1
6  Bodemeister, Mike smith, Bob Baffert, 4/1 (FAVORITE)
7  Rousing Sermon, Jose Lezcano, Jerry Hollendorfer 50/1
8  Creative Cause, Joel Rosario, Mike Harrington 12/1
9  Trinniberg, Willie Martinez, Bisnath Parboo, 50/1
10 Daddy Nose Best, Garrett Gomez, Steve Asmussen 15/1
11 Alpha, Rajiv Maragh, Kiaran McLaughlin , 15/1
12 Prospective, Luis Contreras, Mark Casse,30/1
13 Went The Day Well, John Velazquez, H Graham Motion, 20/1
14 Hansen, Ramon Dominguez, Make Maker, 10/1
15 Gemologist, Javier Castellano, Todd Pletcher, 6/1
16 El Padrino, Rafael Bejarano, Todd Pletcher, 20/1
17 Done Talking, Sheldon Russell, Hamilton Smith 50/1
18 Sabercat, Corey Nakatani, Steve Asmussen, 30/1
19 I’ll Have Another, Mario Gutierrez, Doug O’Neil,  12/1
20 Liason, Martin Garcia, Bob Baffert, 50/1

I’ll Have Another is trained by Doug O’Neill and will be beneath Jockey Mario Gutierrez who was the colts mount in recent wins. Gutierrez cut his teeth racing at Hastings Racecourse in Vancouver BC, Canada before moving to California and Santa Anita Park. O’Neill has saddled the winners of three Breeders Cup races and trained three Eclipse champions.

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Gate – Jockey, Trainer, Morning Line Odds Saturday May 5, 2012
1  Daddy Long Legs, Colm O’Donoghue, Aidan O’Brien, 30/1
2  Optimizer, Jon Court, D. Wayne Lucas 50/1
3  Take Charge Indy, Calvin Borel, Patrick Byrne, 15/1
4  Union Rags, Julien Leparoux, Michael Matz, 9/2
5  Dullahan , Kent Desormeaux, Dale Romans, 8/1
6  Bodemeister, Mike smith, Bob Baffert, 4/1 (FAVORITE)
7  Rousing Sermon, Jose Lezcano, Jerry Hollendorfer 50/1
8  Creative Cause, Joel Rosario, Mike Harrington 12/1
9  Trinniberg, Willie Martinez, Bisnath Parboo, 50/1
10 Daddy Nose Best, Garrett Gomez, Steve Asmussen 15/1
11 Alpha, Rajiv Maragh, Kiaran McLaughlin , 15/1
12 Prospective, Luis Contreras, Mark Casse,30/1
13 Went The Day Well, John Velazquez, H Graham Motion, 20/1
14 Hansen, Ramon Dominguez, Make Maker, 10/1
15 Gemologist, Javier Castellano, Todd Pletcher, 6/1
16 El Padrino, Rafael Bejarano, Todd Pletcher, 20/1
17 Done Talking, Sheldon Russell, Hamilton Smith 50/1
18 Sabercat, Corey Nakatani, Steve Asmussen, 35/1
19 I’ll Have Another, Mario Gutierrez, Doug O’Neil,  12/1
20 Liason, Martin Garcia, Bob Baffert, 50/1

Sabercat is a closer and today’s length might just prove to be what he needs. He qualified for the Kentucky Derby with his win in the G3 Delta Downs Jackpot but struggled at in the G2 Rebel  Stakes at Oaklawn in March. Then Sabercat finished in No. 3 behind Bodemeister in the Arkansas Derby. The colt will have a clear track coming out of the 18th post. If bettors are looking for a good longshot to build their trifecta around; Sabercat is a good choice.

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2012 Kentucky Derby Morning Odds Saturday May 5, 2012

Gate – Jockey, Trainer, Odds
1  Daddy Long Legs, Colm O’Donoghue, Aidan O’Brien, 30/1
2  Optimizer, Jon Court, D. Wayne Lucas 40/1
3  Take Charge Indy, Calvin Borel, Patrick Byrne, 12/1
4  Union Rags, Julien Leparoux, Michael Matz, 9/2
5  Dullahan , Kent Desormeaux, Dale Romans, 8/1
6  Bodemeister, Mike smith, Bob Baffert, 9/2
7  Rousing Sermon, Jose Lezcano, Jerry Hollendorfer 40/1
8  Creative Cause, Joel Rosario, Mike Harrington 12/1
9  Trinniberg, Willie Martinez, Bisnath Parboo, 40/1
10 Daddy Nose Best, Garrett Gomez, Steve Asmussen 14/1
11 Alpha, Rajiv Maragh, Kiaran McLaughlin , 14/1
12 Prospective, Luis Contreras, Mark Casse,35/1
13 Went The Day Well, John Velazquez, H Graham Motion, 25/1
14 Hansen, Ramon Dominguez, Make Maker, 11/1
15 Gemologist, Javier Castellano, Todd Pletcher, 13/2
16 El Padrino, Rafael Bejarano, Todd Pletcher, 25/1
17 Done Talking, Sheldon Russell, Hamilton Smith 40/1
18 Sabercat, Corey Nakatani, Steve Asmussen, 35/1
19 I’ll Have Another, Mario Gutierrez, Doug O’Neil,  14/1
20 Liason, Martin Garcia, Bob Baffert, 50/1