Always Dreaming is the online horse race gambling favorite to win the 2017 Preakness Stakes for two major reasons; 1) he is the brand new Kentucky Derby champeen, and B) he is the only horse officially confirmed as of this writing to participate in the second leg of the Triple Crown. However, like in The Quick and the Dead, shooters are expected to arrive in town and throw their hats in the ring in the two weeks until Preakness actually takes place.
Always Dreaming
Status: Confirmed
This colt is the son of Bodemeister who himself was a runner-up in the 2012 Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes. Always Dreaming maintained his perfect record in four starts this year with a massive victory at Churchill Downs on Saturday, crossing the finish line 2 ¾-lengths ahead of second place Lookin at Lee – who was left Lookin at Always Dreaming’s tail. So this horse has already done his daddy one better and people who bet on horses expect him to do so again at Pimlico. D’you think Bodemeister is living vicariously through his son?
Senior Investment
Status: Pending
Trainer Ken McPeek bought this colt by Discreetly Mine at Keeneland’s September 2015 yearling sale for $95,000. Senior Investment debuted in the summer of 2016 and broke his maiden in four tries, waiting until Prom Night, err, his last start as a two-year-old to pick up a 2 ½-length victory going a mile and 70 yards at Fair Grounds. Not precisely online horse race gambling material so far. Senior finished seventh in his first race against winners a month later, and was never in contention at the in the Louisiana Derby, finishing 6th.
Multiplier
Status: Pending
Despite his name, this horse does not make clones of himself to win races. Nor is he part of a stable of super-powered horses who can turn themselves into water or pull gadgets out of their manes. What this colt is is the winner of the 2017 Illinois Derby, which was only the fourth career start for this horse who did not race as a two-year-old – which fans who bet on horses will be quick to tell you is like skipping college and going directly to the pros.
Cloud Computing
Status: Pending
The Preakness stakes would be the third consecutive graded stakes start – and fourth overall – for Cloud Computing, who also did not race at two. CC had enough points to qualify for Kentucky, but his connections declared him for contention because of his lack of seasoning. As in experience, not as in adding alt, herbs, or spice to enhance his flavor. Cloud debuted in February, winning a six-furlong maiden special weight at Aqueduct. His stakes debut took place less than a month later in the Gotham.
Conquest Mo Money
Status: Pending
This colt, the son of Uncle Mo (Uncle Daddy?), came out victorious in his first three career starts – which included consecutive wins in the Riley Allison Stakes and Mine That Bird Derby (you know you made it when they name a Derby after you). Mo Money had his first loss at the Sunland Derby. This horse didn’t have an online horse race gambling chance at Kentucky, though – mainly because his connections decided to skip that Derby and go straight for the Preakness.