Sway Away will try to dodge the field at Pimlico Race Course, but his 2011 Preakness odds are not much reason to pick him as the outright winner. Sway Away comes from an impressive blood line, as both Seattle Slew and Affirmed are in his pedigree. The sire and broodmare sire combined for five American classic victories, and the top of the pedigree may help see Sway Away through nine furlongs. There is a good amount of speed on the female side of this family, however. The final half-furlong of the Preakness could prove testing. SBGGlobal.com has Sway Away listed at +1250 odds to win the Preakness, but he cannot do it based on pedigree alone.

Sway Away was entered in the Kentucky Derby but excluded on graded earnings, and as a result is a fresh horse coming into the Preakness. He last raced in the Arkansas Derby, and showed improved speed in what was his first start in blinkers. He also owns one of the year’s better Beyer Speed Figures for a 3-year-old, a 101, earned back in February for a runner-up finish to The Factor in the Grade 2 San Vicente. Sway Away shows some strong recent works and will go Saturday for a hot barn, as trainer Jeff Bonde has compiled a 5-for-13 record in graded stakes since Jan. 1, so look for his horse racing odds to come down quite a bit on race-day.

Sway Away’s biggest question mark might be distance, as he has never won beyond five furlongs. In the 1 1/8-mile Arkansas Derby, he took the lead into the stretch after advancing four wide on the final turn, but was overtaken by three rivals in the late stages. With just five races under his belt, experience may also be a factor. He could be in the 10-1 range Saturday, with his price possibly driven down by the fact that he will be reuniting with jockey Garrett Gomez. Sway Away is a consistent horse, and as one who last month finished just three lengths behind the eventual Kentucky Derby runner-up, Nehro, he at least deserves a second look in some trifecta predictions.

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