2009 Preakness Stakes Betting - Filly is Stakes Betting Favorite

Preakness Stakes betting favors the filly Rachel Alexandra on Saturday. A total of 13 horses will be taking off from their post positions trying for the second jewel of horse racing’s Triple Crown with the filly the 8-5 favorite at most racebooks. The Preakness Stakes has not had a filly as the favorite in odds since Winning Colors in 1988 and there has not even been a filly in the field since Excellent Meeting in 1999. No filly has won the race since Nellie Morse in 1924. Winning Colors back in 1988 was a 9-5 favorite against Risen Star who was 6-1.

This year’s odds at the racebooks are similar with Rachel Alexandra at 8-5 and Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird at 6-1. The difference between 1988 and 2009 in Preakness Stakes betting is that Rachel Alexandra looks to be far superior to Winning Colors and Mine That Bird doesn’t look to be very good. A fluke win in the Kentucky Derby does not mean Mine That Bird is a good horse. Mine That Bird trainer Chip Woolley is excited about Preakness Stakes odds though. "This is really exciting," he said. "I've watched every Derby since I was a kid, and it's a dream year to win the Derby and have a chance at the Preakness. It's just so exciting." Rachel Alexandra starts from Post #13 in Preakness betting while Mine That Bird starts from Post #2.

The inside post doesn’t mean much to Mine That Bird though since he is expected to drop to last after the break. The problem with that strategy in Preakness Stakes odds is that rarely do closers win this shorter race as online sportsbook information shows. Pimlico is a track where speed holds so making up ground may be more difficult for Mine That Bird than it was in the Derby. Online racebook information shows that the speed could be intense though with Big Drama breaking from the rail in Preakness betting, Rachel Alexandra forcing the pace and even Friesan Fire right there. Mine That Bird will have Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith in place of Calvin Borel who is riding Rachel Alexandra. Smith knows how to win big races and he knows how to come from behind so he should be a nice fit for this horse.