The trainers for both 2012 Preakness Stakes favorite Bodemeister and Kentucky Derby champion I’ll Have Another said Wednesday they were satisfied with the post positions drawn for their horses in Saturday’s 137th running of the Preakness.
Bodemiester, second to I’ll Have Another in the Derby, is the 8-5 morning line favorite and will be running from the seventh post position.
"I think it’s a good post. With him, anything in the middle would have been fine. In the Preakness you just don’t want to be stuck down on the inside, where you have to use your horse a little bit," said trainer Bob Baffert.
I’ll Have Another is an 8-5 second choice in the morning line odds. He will be starting from the No. 9 post position.
"I thought the draw was really good. I’m very happy with that. Being outside of the legitimate speed, most jockeys would be real happy with that. We’re OK with that," said trainer Doug O’Neill. "It’s in (Bodemeister’s jockey) Mike Smith’s hands to set the pace. For whatever reason if he breaks slow or decides not to go, we’ll take the lead and take it from there."
The race is set for Saturday at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Md.