It is no surprise that Animal Kingdom is currently favored to win the Preakness Stakes after having won the Kentucky Derby, but what is up for debate are his odds of winning this season’s Triple Crown. It is just so surprising how a 20-1 long-shot heading into Churchill Downs is dominating the odds of winning the 2011 Preakness Stakes. Animal Kingdom ran a superb race against a solid but not legendary group of contenders, and the field at Pimlico Park could produce yet another surprise at the finish line. Bodog.com has Animal Kingdom’s Triple Crown odds listed at a staggering +550, and as attractive as they may look, this is not the year to be comfortable with those chances.

There will also be huge concerns about his Preakness competition. Although Dialed In showed little to be excited about in the Derby, the possibility of earning 5.5 million dollars for winning three Magna Derbies this year should put a jump in his step. A Preakness win would cap his two previous victories and payout the bonus, so expect a hard ride from a horse that has all the potential to win not only this race, but the Belmont Stakes as well. Animal Kingdom is listed as a 2-1 favorite in the Preakness, but his stiffest competition will come from the same group of horses that came in right behind him in the Kentucky Derby.

Mucho Macho Man (+450) and Shackleford (+900) will benefit by the shorter track, and given their strong showings in the Derby, they will be serious contenders. The one thing that Animal Kingdom has on his side is his jockey, Jon Velazquez. After being a very late mount aboard Animal Kingdom in the Kentucky Derby, Velazquez has had a couple of weeks to get a bit more accustomed to his ride. This is one of the all-time great jockeys in racing history, so we might have to save a spot in the winner’s circle for Animal Kingdom if Velazquez shows up determined to win this race.

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