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Vegas sportsbook operators were claiming that horse wagering on this year’s Preakness Stakes was relatively low due to that reduced talent pool. Gambling911.com noted that the betting interest is no less than last year, at least where the online websites are concerned. Sportsbook.ag, the biggest online sports betting site by number of gamblers, tells us wagering on the Preakness this year has been brisk as ever before.
“Searches continue to flow in at a steady pace,” noted Payton O’Brien, Senior Editor of the Gambling911.com website.
While the Preakness Stakes ranks nowhere near the Kentucky Derby in terms of betting popularity, it is still among the year’s most wagered on events.
“It’s probably a notch below the Oscars,” O’Brien suggested, referring to the most bet on nonsporting event outside of the US Presidential election.
"These are horses that never would have been in the Derby," Wynn oddsmaker John Avello said of this year’s Preakness entries during an interview with Chad Millman of ESPN.com.
Bodemeister led three quarters plus of the Derby and the Preakness track is pretty much that equivalent. As such, expects like Avello believe the 2012 Preakness will be somewhat anticlimactic with a Bodemeister victory. His price of 8/5 isn’t quite that attractive to many bettors, including Wynn’s oddsmaker.
"The turns are tighter," says Avello. "You want to be in the top four or five spots early because if not, it becomes more difficult, because front-runners have an advantage. It is a speed track, and those turns don't allow for horses to be on the outside and get position."
"Honestly, I may skip the race as far as betting," says Avello. "Bodemeister is the best bet, but the odds are too short for me and that is not my style."
Bodemeister
Cozzetti
Creative Cause
Daddy Nose Best
Ill Have Another
Optimizer
Pretension
Teeth of the Dog
Tiger Walk
Went The Day Well
Zetterholm
- Carrie Stroup, Gambling911.com Senior Reporter
