2009 Preakness Stakes Picks & Predictions

Written by Jimmy Boyd on May 14, 2009

preakness-picks-51409 I was in love with Big Brown, as so many were a year ago, and I rode him to wins in both the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes. This year’s Derby was a disaster for me, just as it was for most, with my horse, Friesan Fire, finishing 18th, and 51/1 long shot Mine That Bird shocking the field. Now it’s time to make my Preakness Stakes predictions and I’m looking for some redemption. Bet the 2009 Preakness Stakes at Sportsbook.com and receive a 100% Win Bonus.

Bet Rachel Alexandra at +100 – The most hyped filly in a while at the Preakness was ridiculous with her lengthy win at the Kentucky Oaks. That race alone is guaranteed to gain the public’s support. But keep in mind that she is yet to run with the boys and could be in for a rude awakening. Oh yeah, no filly has won the Preakness since 1924.

Bet Pioneerof The Nile at +350 – The word solid comes to mind when I think of this horse. He ran a good race at the Derby to take second place and he runs a style that suits Pimlico. I don’t expect any flops out of Nile, but can he overtake the fast filly?

Bet Mine That Bird at +375 – The Derby winner is showing solid value and we could see this value increase even more on the morning of the race as most are still chalking his Derby win up as a fluke. The Derby winner has won 7 of the last 12 at Pimlico so you have to think he has a chance.

Bet Friesan Fire at +500 – What a disappointment with an 18th place finish in the Derby. He could never recover from a bad start. We’ve seen numerous Derby favorites be no shows at Churchill and then find their stride at Pimlico, and Fire certainly has the talent and the pedigree to be the latest. Louis Quatorze wasn’t even the Derby favorite in 1996, but he came storming back from a 16th place Derby finish to win the Preakness two weeks later while setting a track record.

Bet Musket Man at +700 – He’s a stalker and his strategy turned into win in both the Illinois and Tampa Bay Derbies. It also resulted in a very respectable third place finish in the Derby. Not sure he’ll have enough of a kick, however, stalking the pace in a shorter race.

The Field – I don’t foresee a winner from this group. Papa Clem ran fourth at the Derby, but he’s not a top contender in my book, and questions have been raised about General Quarters’ ability on dirt. Tone It Down is a nice local story, but it’s hard to invest in a pony without any stakes wins. If I had to pick a long shot, it would be Big Drama. The long layoff is a big negative, but he was so impressive in the Swale Stakes that you have to give him a shot.

2009 Preakness Stakes Picks

Win – Pioneerof the Nile
Place – Rachel Alexandra
Show – Friesan Fire

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