2012 Preakness Stakes

• PREAKNESS CONTENDERS
• PREAKNESS RESULTS

The Preakness Stakes is best known as the second and shortest leg of the Triple Crown. At just 1 3/16 miles, the Preakness Stakes is held annually on the third Saturday in May at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Md., with the winner getting the lion’s share of the $1M purse and a blanket of black-eyed Susans. Speed and a trouble-free trip are the keys to winning the Preakness Stakes, and for the Kentucky Derby champion, the next step to Triple Crown glory.

The Preakness Stakes contenders list almost always includes the Kentucky Derby champion, along with several other Derby starters. This year’s Kentucky Derby champion I’ll Have Another will be on hand to continue his Triple Crown bid. But several other Kentucky Derby starters will be looking to play spoiler; look for Bodemeister and Went the Day Well to pose the biggest challenges. As well, Optimizer will get a boost with a jockey change; he will have Corey Nakatani in the irons, replacing Jon Court.

The other half of the field will contain fresh faces looking for a piece of the Triple Crown pie. Teeth of the Dog, Tiger Walk and Cozzetti are among this year’s newcomers with the best chance to thwart I’ll Have Another.

Find out what happens in the 137th Preakness Stakes on Saturday, May 19, at Pimlico Race Course.

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