Oxbow was not a Preakness favorite heading into yesterday’s Triple Crown race, despite an impressive turn at the 2013 Kentucky Derby. The bay colt kept up with Palace Malice despite its early torrid pace and he had enough left in the tank to hang on to sixth. And, of course, Oxbow had Triple Crown connections in D.Wayne Lukas and jockey Gary Stevens.

None of that seemed to matter to the odds makers, it did matter on the Pimlico Track. Oxbow recorded a near wire to wire victory, finishing with a 1 3/4 lengths win over Itsmyluckyday and in a time of 1:57.54 (track record set in 1973 by Secretariat 1:53.00).

The victory represented Lukas sixth Preakness Stakes title (Codex 1980, Tank’s Prospect 1985, Tabasco Cat 1994, Timber Country 1995, Charismatic 1999, Oxbow 2013), leaving him one short of record holder Wyndham Walter, and jockey Stevens third winning run at the Preakness (Silver Charm 1997, Point Given 2001).

2013 Preakness Stakes Results & Payouts: Based on $2.00 wager

Post 6 Oxbow $32.80 (Win), $12.00 (Place), $6.80 (Show)
Post 9 Itsmyluckyday $7.80 (Place), $5.00 (Show)
Post 5 Mylute $5.20 (Show)
Post 1 Orb
Post 2 Goldencents
Post 4 Departing
Post 7 Will Take Charge
Post 8 Govenor Charlie
Post 3 Titletown Five

$2.00 EXACTA $301.40
$2.00 TRIFECTA $2061.60

Post Positions for the 2013 Preakness Stakes are as follows:

Post 1 Orb
Post 2 Goldencents
Post 3 Titletown Five
Post 4 Departing
Post 5 Mylute
Post 6 Oxbow
Post 7 Will Take Charge
Post 8 Govenor Charlie
Post 9 Itsmyluckyday

Preakness Stakes 2013 Odds: Provided by Sportsbook.ag

Orb -120
Mylute +700
Departing +700
Goldencents +800
Govenor Charlie +900
Itsmyluckyday +1000
Will Take Charge +1200
Oxbow +1500
Titletown Five +2000

Will Orb Win the 2013 Triple Crown?

Yes +220
No -260

Will Orb Win the 2013 Preakness Stakes?

Yes -120
No +100

Will Departing Win the 2013 Preakness Stakes?

Yes +600
No -800

Will Goldencents Win the 2013 Preakness Stakes?

Yes +700
No -1000

Will Itsmyluckyday Win the 2013 Preakness Stakes?

Yes +800
No -1200

Will Mylute Win the 2013 Preakness Stakes?

Yes +600
No -800

Will Will Take Charge Win the 2013 Preakness Stakes?

Yes +1000
No -1300

2013 Preakness Stakes – Matchup

Departing -160
Goldencents +130

2013 Preakness Stakes – Matchup

Orb -400
Goldencents +300

2013 Preakness Stakes – Matchup

Orb -240
Departing +190

Preakness Predictions -

Orb will win the 2013 Preakness Stakes: The colt has tremendous pedigree (sire was a product of 1992 Belmont Stakes winner A.P. Indy and his dam, Lady Liberty, comes from 1990 Kentucky Derby winner Unbridled) and appears to be getting stronger with each race. Trainer Shug McGaughey indicated the colt still has more to give, saying “I think there’s more there…I think he’s still learning how to run a little bit” following its winning turn at the Kentucky Derby. Orb has won five consecutive races and he navigated the slop at Churchill Downs in fine fashion two weekends ago, finishing in a time of 2:02.89. While the Gate 1 start is not ideal, Orb has won from the one-hole before, and the smaller field should help ease the pressure on the far inside as well.

Oxbow is the potential dark-horse winner in this year’s Preakness Stakes field: At 15 to 1 odds, Oxbow is a nice pick to make a top-three run this afternoon. The colt has a Hall of Famer trainer (Lukas) and jockey (Gary Stevens) and it showed well at the Derby, hanging on to finish sixth after staying near the front during Palace Malice’s blistering splits.

Preakness Predictions 2013: Provided by CarbonSports.ag

Orb -120
Mylute +700
Departing +700
Goldencents +800
Govenor Charlie +900
Itsmyluckyday +1000
Will Take Charge +1200
Oxbow +1500
Titletown Five +2000

Preakness Prop Bets 2013: Provided by Bovada.lv

2013 Preakness Stakes – Head to Head Matchups

Orb -225
Departing +185

2013 Preakness Stakes – Head to Head Matchups

Orb -215
Mylute +175

2013 Preakness Stakes – Head to Head Matchups

Orb -400
Goldencents +300

2013 Preakness Stakes – Head to Head Matchups

Mylute -175
Goldencents +145

2013 Preakness Stakes – Head to Head Matchups

Mylute -125
Departing -105

2013 Preakness Stakes – Head to Head Matchups

Goldencents +160
Departing -200

2013 Preakness Stakes – Margin of Victory

Over 1.5 Lengths (-120)
Under 1.5 Lengths (-120)

2013 Preakness Stakes – Winning Time

Over 1:55.30 (-120)
Under 1:55.30 (-120)

Will Orb win the Triple Crown?

Yes +225
No -350

Will Orb win the Preakness Stakes?

Yes -110
No -130

Will Orb Finish in the Top 3 at the Preakness Stakes?

Yes -500
No +300

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

The lightly raced Govenor Charlie seems like an improbable Preakness winner, but the colt may have a shot at Pimlico glory given its connections and pedigree. Baffert is, obviously, one of the best in the business and his Preakness record speaks to his ability to get horses ready for this race. Govenor Charlie has both speed and distance in his bloodlines with Midnight Lute winning the six furlongs Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1) on two occasions and his great grand sire, Real Quiet (another Baffert trainee), taking both the Preakness Stakes and Kentucky Derby in 1998.

Govenor Charlie’s own resume is anything but extensive as the Preakness will represent just his fourth career start; however, the dark bay does own two victories, including a record setting turn (Govenor Charlie navigated the 1 1/8 miles at Sunland Park in 1:47.54) at the Grade 3 Sunland Derby on March 24th.

Mexican jockey Martin Garcia will have Govenor Charlie’s mount for the Preakness Stakes (Saturday, May 18th 4:30pm ET NBC). Garcia, who was aboard Govenor Charlie in each of the colt’s first three starts, won the 2010 Preakness with the Bob Baffert trained Lookin at Lucky.

Preakness Odds on Govenor Charlie 12 to 1: Provided by CarbonSports.ag

Orb 10/11
Mylute 5/1
Departing 6/1
Goldencents 8/1
Itsmyluckyday 10/1
Govenor Charlie 12/1
Will Take Charge 12/1
Oxbow 15/1
Titletown Five 30/1

Will Take Charge has done very little to live up to his name, winning just three races in eight career starts, but the colt could be a surprise contender in Saturday’s 2013 Preakness Stakes. Lukas believes that anyway or he would have saved the colt a trek to Pimlico. The well traveled trainer was not completely satisfied with Will Take Charge’s run at Churchill Downs two weekends ago, but he indicated the result did not rest solely on the colt.

“I got to watch the overhead view (of the Derby),” Lukas said. “He got stopped pretty badly. He’s a pretty talented horse. You have to remember he’s 16 hands (tall), so you can’t stop and start with him.”

Will Take Charge, which took first at the Smarty Jones Stakes and Rebel Stakes (G2), will have a new rider for the Preakness in Hall of Famer Mike Smith. Smith, who is making his 15th Preakness Stakes start, won the Kentucky Derby in 2005 aboard 50 to 1 longshot Giacomo. The 47 year old jockey, who guided Bodemeister to a second place finish at last year’s Preakness, has over 5,000 career wins.

Smith and Will Take Charge will start this weekend’s Triple Crown event from Post-7. Gate 7 has produced three of the last eight Preakness Stakes winners, including 2004 champion Smarty Jones (Big Brown – 2008, Lookin at Lucky – 2010).

Preakness Odds on Will Take Charge 12 to 1: 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

History of Preakness - First off, only three times since 1983 has a horse won the Preakness after not racing in the Kentucky Derby. That doesn’t bode well for Departing (+600), Govenor Charlie (+1200) or Titletown Five (+3000) as all three did not compete in the Kentucky Derby a few weeks back.

However, two of those three times a non-Derby horse has won the Preakness have happened since 2006 so hope isn’t lost with these horses but it also means I won’t be backing any of them to win.

Best of the Rest - That leaves the other seven horses to battle out for a spot on your card and while Orb cannot be left off any exacta’s or trifecta’s, I don’t think it’s a strong option to lay even money with him to win.

In recent years when the Derby winner hasn’t won the Preakness, it’s often been the horse that finished in the 4th-8th range in the Derby and that means Mylute (+500), Oxbow (+1500) and Will Take Charge (+1200) have to be considered. Mylute is listed as the favorite behind Orb and his ability to close down the stretch was put on display with his 5th place finish in the Derby. Oxbow was right behind him in 6th and Will Take Charge finished 8th. Of those two long shots, I’m siding with Oxbow coming from post position #6. Two of the last three Preakness Stakes have seen the #6 horse finish 3rd and Oxbow definitely has the speed to improve upon that.

It all comes back to the favorite though and barring anything drastic happening, Orb should be in this race until the end. He is virtually un-betable unless it’s in trifecta’s and such but this undefeated horse is so fast that he’ll force the rest of the field out of their comfort zone to keep up.

Preakness Stakes 2013 Picks: So if you’re looking for a flat out winner that could upset Orb and give him his first loss I believe Mylute (+500) and Oxbow (+1500) are your best options.

Itsmyluckyday was considered an outside Kentucky Derby favorite, but its Derby day was anything but lucky as it finished 15th in the first leg of the Triple Crown Series. The poor showing marked the colt’s worst result in 11 career starts, and cast doubts on whether or not it would race at Pimlico this weekend.

Trainer Ed Plesa Jr. felt the sloppy track at Churchill Downs may have played a part in Itsmyluckyday’s lackluster run given how well it trained going into the event. That assessment coupled with the colt’s post-Derby work led Plesa to give it a go at the Preakness Stakes.

“For a horse to train that well and run that poorly and come out of the race so well, it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure it out,” Plesa said.

Despite its poor showing at the Derby, Itsmyluckyday figures to challenge for the win on Saturday. The colt took first at the Grade 3 Holy Bull Stakes and second at the Grade 1 Florida Derby (finished behind Derby winner Orb) prior to its Kentucky Derby run.

Itsmyluckyday will jump from Post-9 (produced two of the last 10 Preakness Stakes winners) and have veteran jockey John Velazquez guiding it in this weekend’s race. Velazquez has yet to win the Preakness Stakes, but he has one Derby win (Animal Kingdom – 2011) and two Belmont victories (Rages to Riches – 2007, Union Rags – 2012) to his credit.

The 138th running of the Preakness Stakes is scheduled to get underway at 4:30pm ET on Saturday, May 18th; the event will be broadcast live on the NBC Sports Network.

Preakness Odds on Itsmyluckyday 6 to 1: Provided by Sportsbook.ag

Orb 11/10
Departing 4/1
Itsmyluckyday 6/1
Goldencents 7/1
Will Take Charge 12/1
Mylute 12/1
Govenor Charlie 20/1
Oxbow 20/1
Titletown Five 30/1

Departing almost earned enough points to qualify for the Kentucky Derby, but a third place finish at the Grade 2 Louisiana Derby left it just short of a Run for the Roses appearance. The gelding finished third at the event, coming in behind Revolutionary and Mylute, which placed third and fifth at the Derby, respectively. Departing did place ahead of two other Derby runners, though, getting the better of both Golden Soul (second at the Kentucky Derby) and Palace Malice (12th at the Kentucky Derby).

Despite coming up short in its quest for a Derby start, this lightly raced son of War Front (sire) and Leave (dam) is considered a promising Preakness Stakes contender. Prior to his Louisiana Derby run, Departing won three races in three starts (Maiden, Allowance, Texas Heritage Stakes) and he has since won the Grade 3 Illinois Derby, which, according to trainer Al Stall Jr. “billed itself as a prep for the Preakness”.

Piloting Departing on Saturday is jockey Brian Hernandez Jr. Hernandez will be participating in his first Preakness Stakes, but he does not lack for experience. The Louisiana native has over 1000 career victories and he guided Fort Larned to last year’s Breeders’ Cup Classic win.

The 138th running of the Preakness Stakes will take place this Saturday, May 18th; the Triple Crown event will be broadcast live on the NBC Sports Network (4:30pm ET – 6:30pm ET).

Preakness Odds on Departing 7 to 2: Provided by CarbonSports.ag

Orb 7/5
Departing 7/2
Goldencents 7/1
Itsmyluckyday 9/1
Will Take Charge 12/1
Mylute 12/1
Govenor Charlie 20/1
Oxbow 20/1
Titletown Five 30/1