2007 Preakness Stakes Predictions
June 5, 2008
Recent history tells us that we should be picking 2007 Kentucky Derby winner Street Sense to come through again in the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico race course this weekend. Six of the last 10 Derby winners have repeated at Pimlico before biting the bullet at the Belmont Stakes in their Triple Crown shot. Let’s take a look at some of the other contenders who just might play spoiler in our 2007 Preakness Stakes predictions.
The first one that comes to mind is Kentucky Derby runner-up Hard Spun. Hard Spun is trained by Larry Jones who must have the right stuff judging by Hard Spun’s 3-0 record in 2006. His maiden special weight, $54,000 Port Penn Stakes, and $50,000 Pennsylvania Nursery Stakes all showed that he was ready for bigger and better things. He started off 2007 winning the $100,000 Lecomte Stakes, finished a disappointing fourth at the Lecomte Stakes, but came back with a win in the $500,000 Lane’s End Stakes. A runner-up finish at the Kentucky Derby in a race that Street led most of the way has trainer Larry Jones feeling great about his horses chances on a shorter track with less traffic at Pimlico.
Curlin cashed show bets in the Kentucky Derby and will be looking to spoil Street’s Triple Crown hopes at the Preakness. His third place finish at the Derby marked his first loss in his four-race career with two of those wins coming by more than 10 lengths. Churchill downs is tough track for any horse, but especially a sprinter with limited race experience. He’ll contend at Pimlico.
The smaller Pimlico race course and the less crowded race just might be setting up a photo finish between the three top finishers at the Derby. He could go nose to nose with either of his top two competitors the way he did with Any Given Saturday in the Tampa Bay Derby.
Although history is on his side, the fact that his two biggest wins have come at Churchill Downs leaves me as a skeptic. The way Hard Spun came out of the gates at the Derby has me thinking that he will have enough to hold off the field at the Preakness Stakes this weekend.
When bets are being taken for the 2007 Preakness Stakes, we’ll side with Hard Spun to spoil Street Sense’s Triple Crown hopes.
Check out our other Preakness Stakes articles for a more in depth look at one of the most famed horse races.