2010 Preakness Betting success is based in large part on the handicapper’s ability to get the best possible board value. That is sometimes difficult since the Derby winner is almost always heavily favored in Preakness Stakes odds.2010 Preakness Betting value can best be found with a variety of important angles to consider when evaluating the field. The Preakness Stakes will attract a collection of horses that are best known as “specialists.” A specialist horse will take long rests between races, often going weeks at a time between starts.
A specialist horse will often be the perfect candidate to ambush a favorite. A perfect example of a specialist was last year’s winner of the Preakness Stakes; Rachel Alexandra. The filly was held out of the Kentucky Derby and was able to avoid the stress that comes in running the biggest and most important race of the year. Instead, she lied in the bushes and waited for the Preakness Stakes and scored an unforgettable victory over Mine That Bird, the Kentucky Derby winner.
A good way to find out if a horse is a 2010 Preakness Betting specialist candidate is to research the past performance chart and check out the dates between races. A horse that has demonstrated the ability to come out and win after a long time off is a horse that could make for the perfect sleeper candidate in the Preakness Stakes.
One of the reasons that a specialist can cause so much havoc in the Preakness Stakes is because of the stress of the Kentucky Derby. The Derby will feature the absolute finest horses in the world and usually a much larger field than what you will see at the Stakes. There is considerable preparation that goes into the Kentucky Derby beginning with the prep races earlier in the year. It all adds up to a stress level that will wear down the horses, not to mention the trainers, owners, and jockeys. All of that stress can lead to slip ups and mistakes in the Preakness Stakes and horses that are simply not as sharp or fresh. A quality horse that lies in waiting is therefore one of the most dangerous animals on the board.
Beyond that a specialist horse will often command better board value in Preakness Stakes odds and bring a better price than the highly publicized Derby winner, which means more bang for a bettor’s buck.