Preakness Stakes Power Rankings - A Lady in the Lead

The mud has barely begun to dry back into dirt on the Churchill Downs racing strip and already Triple Crown horseplayers are singing the praises of Kentucky Oaks victor Rachel Alexandra and downgrading the chances of Kentucky Derby winner, Mine That Bird in the Preakness.

The differences between the two are so staggering to some BetUS online racebook fans, that the futubreook has tabbed Rachel Alexandra as a favorite at +180 and Mine That Bird at +400.

But before gamblers bet the farm on a filly in the Preakness, they had better take a hard look at the other contenders.

Let's analyze the horses in the Preakness Power Rankings.

Preakness Stakes: Power Rankings

1. Papa Clem +700 - - The son of Smart Strike was right up on the suicidal pace in the Derby . Granted, he was on the inside part of the track, but then switched outside before the top of the stretch before trying his hand once again at the leaders. He should improve yet again in the Preakness and his sire has already produced a Preakness winner in Curlin. Papa Clem would be a huge overlay at 7 to 1 in the Preakness after his fantastic Derby run.


2. Pioneerof The Nile +450 - - Bettors still don't believe in this son of Empire Maker even though he was closer to the pace in the sportsbook but he could bounce while Papa Clem could improve.


3. Mine That Bird +400 - - Sure, things set up for him, but things set up for Rachel Alexandra as well in the Kentucky Oaks. Let's be honest, Mine That Bird took a huge leap forward as a racehorse in the Kentucky Derby. Anybody who believes this guy is closer to Giacomo than Street Sense, is crazy. He's a quality animal having been sired by Birdstone and his turn of foot in the Kentucky Derby was breathtaking. What else is in his favor at Pimlico? The fact that he might be facing a faster pace than he did in the Derby with some front runners that could really heat up the pace.


4. Musket Man +1000 - - All Musket Man did was run against his pedigree enough to finish third in the Kentucky Derby at big odds. He's now 5-0-2 out of 7 lifetime races and showed the type of heart at Churchill Downs that's rare for sons of Yonaguska. He's a serious player because he can lay around four or five lengths off of the speed before making a clear run to the finish line before making in the Preakness. He's a fantastic bet at 10 to 1.


5. Rachel Alexandra -125 - - She looked spectacular in the Kentucky Oaks but she was running against one of the worst fields ever assembled for the race. She also got to lay behind an easy pace and then just take over whenever she wanted to. Yes, she's spectacular but she's changing barns, which in this case might not be great, and will be going against some serious other speed in the Preakness in Hull and Big Drama. She might be that good, but I'm not ready to anoint her the Preakness champ at those odds until I see what the rest of these do going up to the race.


6. Hull +2000 - - He's undefeated, out of Holy Bull, and ran a 44 and change half mile in the Derby Trial Stakes at Churchill Downs before hanging on to win by 4 lengths. He's a serious player in this if the other speed, like Pioneerof The Nile, Big Drama and Rachel Alexandra decide to let him get an easy lead. Beware this high priced speed horse.