Kentucky Derby winner I’ll Have Another kept his Triple Crown hopes alive by edging out Bodemeister for the second time in two weeks to take the 137th running of the Preakness Stakes.

The race had a very similar setup to the way the Derby unfolded two weeks earlier at Churchill Downs with Bodemeister charging out to an early lead only to have I’ll Have Another come charging back to win under the guidance of 25-year old jockey Mario Gutierrez.  The pace wasn’t as fast as the Derby and I’ll Have Another was able to stay a bit closer as he was fourth in the 11-horse field at the quarter pole.

Creative Cause, who I backed at the betting window in each of his last two races, finished third behind two horses that he had previously beaten.

I'll Have Another became just the fourth horse to win the Preakness from the No. 9 post, and first since Funny Cide in 2003. He was the first-ever horse to win the Kentucky Derby from the No. 19th post.

With the win I’ll Have Another will now have a crack at winning horse racing’s elusive Triple Crown. Since Affirmed won the last Triple Crown 34 years ago 11 horses have had a shot going into the Belmont but fell short, including the most recent try by Big Brown in 2008.

Giving that I’ll Have Another’s style suggests he has closing ability and the ability to get stronger as the race progresses the 1 ½ mile “Test of a Champion” Belmont Stakes might be his type of race. It will be interesting to see the field of challengers that will show up to try and dash the colt’s hopes of making history.

RACE RECAP

ORDER OF FINISH
1. (9) I'll Have Another
2. (7) Bodemeister
3. (6) Creative Cause
4. (4) Zetterholm
5. (2) Teeth of the Dog
6. (10) Optimizer
7. (11) Cozetti
8. (1) Tiger Walk
9. (8) Daddy Nose Best
10. (5) Went the Day Well
11. (3) Pretension

PAYOUTS
I'LL HAVE ANOTHER - $8.40 $3.80 $2.80
BODEMEISTER - $3.20 $2.80
CREATIVE CAUSE - $3.60

$2 Daily Double 3-9 38.20
$2 Daily Double SPECIAL/PREAKNESS 8-9 45.00
$2 Exacta 9-7 18.60
$1 Superfecta 9-7-6-4 424.30
$2 Super High Five 9-7-6-4-2 3,667.60
$2 Trifecta 9-7-6 70.80
$0.50 Pick 3 5/9-3-9 (3 correct) 24.60
$0.50 Pick 4 2-5/9-3-9 (4 correct) 233.10
$0.50 Pick 5 6/7/9/10-2-5/9-3-9 (5 correct) 1,485.05

Horse Racing 2012 triple crown, preakness stakes 137, preakness stakes, i'll have another, bodemeister