Top Three Kentucky Derby Finishers Favorites for Preakness

The top three finishers from the Kentucky Derby (G1) will meet up again at Pimlico Race Course on Saturday, May 16 in the second jewel of the Triple Crown, the $1 million Preakness Stakes (G1).

Kentucky Derby winner American Pharoah leads the way in the early betting at 5/6 at Bodog. Trained by Hall of Famer Bob Baffert, the colt is at betting odds of 9/4 to win the Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes and become the first Triple Crown winner since Affirmed in 1978.

Standing in his way are several contenders he beat at Churchill Downs on the first Saturday of May. The runner up Firing Line will be back looking to turn the tables on the Derby champ and is the second choice in early Preakness wagering at 5/1 at Bodog.

Firing Line battled on gamely in the stretch and could not match strides with the winner in deep stretch, finishing a length back.

The Derby third place finisher Dortmund will return in the Preakness and is the third choice in early Preakness betting at 6/1. The colt suffered his first defeat in the Run for the Roses after starting his career with six victories.

Dortmund is also trained by Bob Baffert, but the duo have different owners. American Pharoah is owned by Zayat Stables, while Dortmund is owned by Kaleem Shah.

Carpe Diem, Materiality and Competitive Edge are next in the betting and the trio is trained by Todd Pletcher. It is not likely Pletcher will start all three in the Preakness, most likely one or two will go.

Carpe Diem was sent off as the third betting choice in the Kentucky Derby after winning the Tampa Bay Derby (G2) and Blue Grass (G1), but faded to finish 10th, beaten 11 lengths. His current Preakness odds are 12/1.

Materiality was sixth in the Kentucky Derby, his first career defeat. The lightly raced colt won the Florida Derby (G1) in his previous start. The colt is currently at Preakness betting odds of 16/1.

Competitive Edge is an undefeated Pletcher trainee coming off a victory in the Pat Day Mile (G3) on Derby Day. The colt is at odds of 14/1 at Bodog.

For complete betting odds for the Preakness click here.

Michael Dempsey will be providing his full card handicapping report for Preakness Day at turfnsport.com.