2009 Preakness Stakes Betting Favorite - Pioneerof the Nile

Preakness Stakes betting odds have Pioneerof the Nile 5-1 as the second choice behind the filly Rachel Alexandra in Saturday’s 134th running of the Preakness Stakes. While the filly is getting most of the attention on Saturday, Pioneerof the Nile should not be overlooked as one of the Preakness Stakes favorites. Pioneerof the Nile was second in the Kentucky Derby to Mine That Bird 6-1 but may not be getting the respect he deserves. Ahmed Zayat is the owner of Pioneerof the Nile and his racing manager believes that the horse deserves a little credit.

“We probably deserve a little more respect, but respect doesn’t matter—results matter,” said Zayat’s racing manager, Sohby Sonbol. “The California form has held; the East Coast horses were nowhere in the Derby. There were some very nice horses we finished ahead of [in the Derby].” Perhaps the slow track affected Pioneerof the Nile but if not for a perfect trip for Mine That Bird it would be Pioneerof the Nile trying for a Triple Crown. Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert is hoping for a fast track at Pimlico on Saturday for his horse. “I still want to see what my horse does on fast dirt,” said Baffert, “He’s really bounced out of [the Derby] well. I’ve had horses that I’ve run there that you can tell it really took a lot out of them, and I really didn’t want to bring them, but I sort of had to bring them to take another shot at it. He came back like the ones that won it. He’s going to run a big race.”

Pioneerof the Nile is one of the Preakness Stakes betting favorites with Garret Gomez in the irons. There are no trainers that know how to win as well as Baffert. Even though D. Wayne Lukas has won the Preakness five times compared to Baffert’s four, Baffert has a much better winning percentage in Preakness Stakes odds. Baffert knows how to get his horses ready for Triple Crown races. “After we won the CashCall [Futurity (G1)], Bob said, we’re going to these races and then we’re going to the Derby,” Sonbol said. “Knock on wood, it’s worked so far. This is an easy horse to manage.” Pioneerof the Nile 5-1 is the second choice at Bodog racebook for Saturday’s race and is definitely one of the favorites.