Jackson Bend Might Surprise in Preakness Betting

If you are looking for a nice priced horse in Preakness betting on Saturday you might want to look at Jackson Bend The horse is trained by Nick Zito and will be ridden by Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith.  He has appealing morning line Preakness odds of 12-1

Preakness betting is not giving Jackson Bend much respect and that could be because of his 12th place finish in the Kentucky Derby.  Serious horse handicappers will throw that race out though since Jackson Bend had a troubled trip over a sloppy track.  Before that race, Jackson Bend had finished first or second in his first nine starts.

Unlike the Kentucky Derby where there were a number of speed horses, there may not be much pace in the Preakness and that could mean a horse like Jackson Bend will go to the early lead.  “Sure, if Calvin gives me a break,” Zito said, “If Calvin and First Dude take back, I will tell Mike to get some position. We’ll see what happens.”

Jackson Bend finished second to Eskendereya twice.  He always seems to give a good account except for two weeks ago in the Derby.  The question for this horse is whether he has the class to win in Preakness odds.  He has never won a graded stakes race.  The horse could easily get into an early speed duel with Super Saver since there is really no other speed in the race.  “I wish they would just give that little horse the lead,” Zito said.  “Give that little horse the lead and I would take it. They should. He is just a little guy, give him a break.”

Here is the full field of 12 horses in Preakness betting.