While most trainers and jockeys consider the one-hole a less than ideal starting post, Orb maintained the top spot on the Preakness Stakes odds leaderboard despite drawing the far inside gate. Obviously the odds makers and betting public believe the smaller field (nine) coupled with Orb’s track record reduces the significance of the draw. The colt has overcome a gate one start before, winning the 1 1/16 miles Fountain of Youth (G2) from Post No. 1.

Orb, which needed four attempts to break his maiden, enters the Preakness Stakes on a five race winning streak; he also has the hottest jockey in the country at his reigns in Dominican native Joel Rosario. Rosario rode 2011 Kentucky Derby winner Animal Kingdom to victory in the $10 million Dubai World Cup before piloting Orb to the win at Churchill Downs two weekends ago.

While Orb was not affected by Wednesday’s draw results, some horses saw their odds move. Departing (Post No. 4) was drawing 5/1 odds earlier in the week, but it is now a 13/2 Preakness selection. Post No. 5 starter, Mylute, is now a second pick with Departing, moving from 9/1 odds up to 13/2. Like Departing, Goldencents dropped ever so slightly, falling from 7/1 to odds to its current line of 8/1.

D.Wayne Lukas’ Preakness trio of Will Take Charge, Oxbow, and Titletown Five remain the longest shots in the nine horse field, coming in at 12/1, 16/1, and 28/1 respectively.

Preakness Picks 2013: Provided by Bovada.lv

Orb 10/11
Departing 13/2
Mylute 13/2
Goldencents 8/1
Govenor Charlie 10/1
Itsmyluckyday 10/1
Will Take Charge 12/1
Oxbow 16/1
Titletown Five 28/1

Long shot Palace Malice dominated the first three fractions of the 2013 Kentucky Derby while eventually champion Orb paced himself in the distance. As the final stretch neared Malice as well as contenders Verrazano and Goldencents began to fade; it was then that jockey Joel Rosario asked Orb to turn it on.

The colt answered in resounding fashion, blowing past its competition on the far outside. Once Orb got past Normandy Invasion, it had clean run to finish and more than enough in the tank to stave off Golden Soul, a 40-1 long shot, and Revolutionary, which made a late charge along the rail. Orb went on to win the race by 2.5 lengths and finished with a time of 2:02.89. By comparison, the last sloppy track Derby winner, Super Saver, notched a winning time of 2:04.45 in 2010.

2013 Kentucky Derby Results & Payouts:

Post 16 – Orb Win: Win $12.80, Place $7.40, Show $5.40
Post 4 – Golden Soul: Place $38.60, Show $19.40
Post 3- Revolutionary: Show $5.40
Normandy Invasion
Mylute
Oxbow
Lines of Battle
Will Take Charge
Charming Kitten
Giant Finish
Overanalyze
Palace Malice
Java’s War
Verrazano
Itsmyluckyday
Frac Daddy
Goldencents
Vyjack
Falling Sky

Verrazano (+500), which went unraced at two years old, enters the Kentucky Derby having won all four of the races he entered, but wins at the Grade I Wood Memorial and Grade 2 Tampa Bay Derby are what brought the colt into the Derby spotlight. Granted, Verrazano’s splits at the Wood were not overly impressive, but he did finish ahead of two other Derby entries, Normandy Invasion and Vyjack, in the 1 1/8th miles event.

Verrazano’s pedigree would suggest 10 furlongs (1 1/4th miles) might be an issue; however, given the other factors working in his favor, including a Derby winning trainer in Todd Pletcher and a Derby winning jockey in John Velasquez, the colt should be a major factor come Saturday.

Orb also boosts an impressive record, having won his last four races, but it did take him four tries to break his maiden. Despite the slow start, the Malibu Moon sired bay now has two majors Derby Trail wins in its proverbial pocket in the Grade I Florida Derby and Grade 2 Fountain of Youth Stakes. This colt also boasts plenty of distance pedigree (A.P. Indy, Unbridled, Seattle Slew) and it will be piloted by a red hot jockey in Joel Rosario.

Kentucky Derby Favorites 2013: Provided by CarbonSports.ag

Orb +500
Verrazano +500
Revolutionary +700
Goldencents +800
Normandy Invasion +800
Itsmyluckyday +1200
Overanalyze +1500
Vyjack +1600
Javas War +1800
Will Take Charge +2000
Palace Malice +2500
Oxbow +3000
Mylute +3000
Lines of Battle +4000
Black Onyx +4000
Frac Daddy +5000
Falling Sky +5000
Golden Soul +5000
Charming Kitten +5000
Giant Finish (replacing Fear the Kitten) NA

“Experts predict Uncaptured is the one to watch because he has a ton of successful turf experience,” stated Horse Racing Picks Expert Trixie Hammer of LadyandtheTrack.com.” I like Palm Beach Stakes winner Rydilluc. Most say Rydilluc doesn’t have what it takes to win the 2013 Kentucky Derby compared to other leading contenders. Looking at the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes field for Saturday, Rydilluc has a real shot at placing first. He teams up with Edgar Prado and will break from the 13th Post Position.”

Those of you that follow us know that Trixie had given out 2013 Santa Anita Derby winner Goldencents last week as one of her top selections to finish in the money.

Those horse racing bettors looking for some juicy odds on a Blue Grass Stakes long shot, Hammer had this to say: “Dynamic Sky has my attention too. He’s got a lot to prove during the Blue Grass with Joel Rosario on the mount. My longshot pick with 30-1 odds is Channel Isle. Channel Isle really has something special alongside trainer D. Wayne Lukas.”

Current 2013 Blue Grass Stakes Odds from Bovada.lv

1 – Dynamic Sky – 10 to 1 odds – Rosario/Casse
2 – My Name Is Michael – 15 to 1 odds – Bridgmohen/Mott
3 – Undrafted – 10 to 1 odds – Nakatani/Ward
4 – Java’s War – 4 to 1 odds – Leparoux/McPeek
5 – Palace Malice – 8 to 1 odds – Gomez/Pletcher
6 – Channel Isle – 30 to 1 odds – Rocco Jr./Lukas
7 – Uncapured – 7 to 2 odds – Mena/Casse
8 – Charming Kitten – 10 to 1 odds – Bravo/Pletcher
9 – Tesseron – 50 to 1 odds – Garcia/Carroll
10 – Footbridge – 20 to 1 odds – Lanerie/Harty
11 – Balance The Books – 15 to 1 odds – Castellano/Brown
12 – West Hills Giant – 20 to 1 odds – Espinoza/Terrazova
13 – Rydilluc – 4 to 1 odds – Prado/Contessa
14 – Fear The Kitten – 30 to 1 odds – Napravnik/Maker
15 – Divine Ambition – 50 to 1 odds – Graham/Miller

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.

Want to dominate the books this Triple Crown season with winning Pro Horse Plays? Sign up right now with some of the best Horse Racing Odds experts in the business and receive Free Horse Plays!

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

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

Creative Cause is from the stables of owner Heinz Steinmann and is trained by Mike Harrington. Jockey Joel Rosario made his first appearance in the 2010 Kentucky Derby aboard Make Music for Me finishing fourth. Rosario, of the Dominican Republic, won his first graded stakes race in 2008 aboard Zappa in the San Pasquel (GII) and his first Breeders’ Cup race in 2009 with Dancing in Silks. His top mounts have included Creative Cause, Acclimation, Blind Luck, Harmonious, Dakota Phone, Dubawi Heights, Twirling Candy and Zazu.

The son of two top performers with seven-figure bankrolls, Creative Cause is by European champion and leading international sire Giant’s Causeway, and out of Grade 1-winning racemare Dream of Summer. He should have enough stamina to negotiate the classic distance.

Get Expert Horse Racing Picks from the Top Horse Racing Handicappers before the start of the first race in the Triple Crown series, sign up for free Horse Racing Picks on all races including the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes.