Sports

A handy guide to betting the Preakness Stakes

The 139th Preakness Stakes is set for Saturday at Pimlico in Baltimore. Nine challengers are lined up to derail Kentucky Derby winner California Chrome’s quest for horse racing’s elusive Triple Crown. Before the starting gates open (and the betting windows close) for this 1 3/16-mile dash for a $1.5 million purse — post time is 6:18 p.m.; NBC will televise — here is a guide to the field.

Horses are listed by program number, in post position order.

1. Dynamic Impact (12-1)

Bay colt, by Tiznow (Cee’s Tizzy), out of Featherbed (Smart Strike)
Jockey: Miguel Mena
Trainer: Mark Casse

Current form: Stalked the pace and got his nose up just in time to defeat a less-than-stellar field in the Illinois Derby. Brings two-race winning streak to the gate and gets better with every start.

Worth a wager? Not quite. Could get a cozy spot on the rail but faces a significant upgrade in talent today. Mid pack.

2. General A Rod (15-1)

Dark Bay or Brown colt, by Roman Ruler (Fusaichi Pegasus), out of Dynamite Eyes (Dynaformer)
Jockey: Javier Castellano
Trainer: Mike Maker

Current form: Things did not go the General’s way in Kentucky. Failed to show his early jump and spent the rest of the Derby battling traffic. Board hitter in both the Florida Derby and Fountain of Youth this spring.

Worth a wager? Better trip from inside post but can’t be recommended only two weeks after Derby flop. Fair to say he won’t be wearing the Black Eyed Susans.

3. California Chrome (3-5)

Chestnut colt, by Lucky Pulpit (Pulpit), out of Love the Chase (Not for Love)
Jockey: Victor Espinoza
Trainer: Art Sherman

Current form: Can he get the distance? Will he travel well? How will he deal with the noisy crowd? The enormous field? Answered every question with a resounding YES. Dropped Samraat, and others, like a bad habit and built comfortable lead mid stretch in Derby. Racing’s biggest star has won five in a row and looks to set grab jewel No. 2. Has the sport as a whole backing him.

Worth a wager? Your hands are tied. Have to use him, even at this price. No bad bounce expected. Hype machine ready to hum.

4. Ring Weekend (20-1)

Chestnut gelding, by Tapit (Pulpit), out of Free the Magic (Cryptoclearance)
Jockey: Alan Garcia
Trainer: H. Graham Motion

Current form: Was riding high after easily taking the Tampa Bay Derby gate to wire. Raced as the prohibitive favorite in the Calder Derby but was soundly defeated moving longer.

Worth a wager? No, not off his latest. Will be as popular at the betting windows as Donald Sterling at a Clippers family picnic.

5. Bayern (10-1)

BayernAP

Dark Bay or Brown colt, by Offlee Wild (Wild Again), out of Alittlebitearly (Thunder Gulch)
Jockey: Rosie Napravnik
Trainer: Bob Baffert

Current form: Proved very game as he battled every step of the way to win the Derby Trial only to be DQ’d for contact late. Ran third to Danza in the Arkansas Derby two races back.

Worth a wager? I like him. Especially with Pimlico’s tight turns. He’s a fighter with exceptional speed and he’ll be hard to put away when they turn for home. Can hit the board.

6. Ria Antonia (30-1)

Bay filly, by Rockport Harbor (Unbridled’s Song), out of Beer Baroness (Mr. Greeley)
Jockey: Calvin Borel
Trainer: Tom Amoss

Current form: Filly taking on the big boys here after wide trip left her nowhere in the Kentucky Oaks. Only victory of note came in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile fillies last year. And that was via DQ.

Worth a wager? C’mon. Sorry, but she shouldn’t be here. This is not Rachel Alexandra and she may be over-matched.

7. Kid Cruz (20-1)

Bay colt, by Lemon Drop Kid (Kingmambo), out of Layreebelle (Tale of the Cat)
Jockey: Julian Pimentel
Trainer: Linda Rice

Current form: Has home-field advantage as he’s the only horse with a W over the oval. Stretch runner has back-to-back victories after winning the Federico Tesio stake at Pimlico last month.

Worth a wager? He’ll be moving late but level of competition suggests he’ll catch only half the field. No touchdown salsa today. Mid pack.

8. Social Inclusion (5-1)

Bay colt, by Pioneerof the Nile (Empire Maker), out of Saint Bernadette (Saint Ballado)
Jockey: Luis Contreras
Trainer: Manny Azpurua

Current form: I believe only two horses can win this race, and he’s one of them. Won opening pair by a country mile earlier this spring defeating highly regarded Honor Code in the process. Drew bad post and ran hard to get lead in the Wood Memorial before wilting late to Wicked Strong.

Worth a wager? Never made it to the Derby but can make things uncomfortable for “Chrome” today. He’s my win bet and can’t see him finishing worse than second.

9. Pablo Del Monte (20-1)

Chestnut colt, by Giant’s Causeway (Storm Cat), out of One Hot Wish (Bring the Heat)
Jockey: Jeffrey Sanchez
Trainer: Wesley Ward

Current form: Enters off back-to-back thirds in the Blue Grass and Hutcheson. Flashed long-forgotten speed over the Keeneland synthetics at 1 1/8 miles before grudgingly giving way late.

Worth a wager? Improving race to race and may be ready to fire a bullet. But not here. May be better this summer.

10. Ride On Curlin (10-1)

Bay colt, by Curlin (Smart Strike), out of Magical Ride (Smart Strike)
Jockey: Joel Rosario
Trainer: William Gowan

Current form: Broke from the far outside on Derby day and spotted field some heavy real estate. Finished full of run when he got clear. Solid all spring including runner-up to Danza in Arkansas Derby.

Worth a wager? Yes. Exotics. Son of Curlin seems to enjoy going long and may fill out your superfecta. Note: Only colt proven over sloppy surface.