Preakness no gimme

— -- Here's the 140th Preakness field.

Don't roll your eyes at the comparatively short field. Horses can find trouble in match races.

1. American Pharoah (4-5): Stylish. The rail at Pimlico stinks.
2. Dortmund (7-2): Already likes this better than the Kentucky Derby.
3. Mr. Z (20-1): Last-minute entry nails trainer D. Wayne Lukas a nice parking spot.
4. Danzig Moon (15-1): Contends for cleanup spot, fourth.
5. Tale of Verve (30-1): Thirty-to-one times two. A filler.
6. Bodhisattva (20-1): Named by committee? Was about right once at 115-1.
7. Divining Rod (12-1): Races Danzig.
8. Firing Line (4-1): Has four second-place finishes.

One of the things I don't understand about horse racing is how you can train against yourself.

Bob Baffert trains the first two horses. Which might he prefer to meet in the winner's circle, one with two legs up on the Triple Crown, or one that just let the air out of the sports world?

The race shapes up as being Junior's first trifecta: box the big three for the little guy, and hope the highest price gets there first. Introduce the next generation to gambling this Saturday.

What could be different from the Derby: Could American Pharoah lose?

Sure.

Dortmund could beat him on the lead or off the hip. Probably the latter, as Pharoah will likely choose to get the heck out of there.

Firing Line looked a little funky toward the last of the Derby, but with the outside draw will be positioned perfectly.

Can anybody beat the big three for second or third?

Nope.

Danzig Moon is a tease.

Divining Rod is off a Grade 3 win but would need double luck to get third.

Decent gambles

1. Dortmund to win.
2. Divining Rod to slip in for third.

Jay's picks

1. American Pharoah
2. Dortmund
3. Firing Line
4. Divining Rod