The 2009 Preakness Stakes post time is hours away, as the 6:15 post time will officially bring the 2009 Preakness Stakes upon us. After post time, the 134’th Preakness Stakes will officially bring about the second most famous 2+ minutes in sports, as many fans hope the 2009 Preakness will have a showdown for the ages. Rachel Alexandra has been treated as the unbeatable favorite of the 2009 Preakness Stakes heading into post time, with Mine That Bird again in the underdog position. But once the post time comes around, the 2009 Preakness Stakes will decide if the hype is real, or if there will be another Triple Crown surprise.
The 2009 Preakness Stakes has had a more stable buildup than the Kentucky Derby heading into post time. For one thing, scores of horses weren’t scratched in the week leading up to the Preakness Stakes, and the favorite didn’t get taken out hours before post time either.
Unlike pre-Kentucky Derby favorite I Want Revenge, Preakness favorite Rachel Alexandra is still scheduled to race for the moment. The 8/5 favorite has been hyped up as the greatest filly in decades, and is now widely expected to be one of the select few Triple Crown winning fillies.
The 2009 Preakness Stakes could also make history if Mine That Bird pulls off his second straight upset. Nowadays, it is more common for the Kentucky Derby winner to also win the Preakness, and go into Belmont with a shot at the Triple Crown. But since Mine That Bird is the most unlikely Derby winner in decades, hopes for him winning the Triple Crown are limited.
Yet that could easily change after post time, if Mine That Bird has another stunning run by the rails in him. With jockey Calvin Borel running with Rachel Alexandra, however, that puts the odds against Mine That Bird further.
With post time approaching at the 2009 Preakness Stakes, the weather is once again a concern at a Triple Crown race. The Kentucky Derby track was sloppy all day two weeks ago, but rain held off after post time. But for the Preakness, rain is even more of a worry, and could leave horses with another wet track to deal with.
Fears also surround the fate of the Preakness Stakes as a whole, as Pimlico Race Course is facing hard times, due to its owners having to sell the track and the uneasy future of horse racing. If the track’s future isn’t secured, Pimlico could lose the Preakness Stakes in the near future.
For now, the horses remain at Pimlico, and post time is still on schedule for another showing of the Preakness Stakes. The 134’th version will be off at 6:15, with NBC broadcasting the action.
Sources
The Guardian- “Filly provides winning story line to Preakness” www.guardian.co.uk/world/feedarticle/8510863
Baltimore Sun- “Mine That Bird praying for rain?” www.baltimoresun.com/sports/horseracing/bal-sp.sloppy16may16,0,4843129.story
East Coast Bias- “Seven Reasons This Is Maryland’s Last Preakness” www.east-coast-bias.com/2009/05/seven-reasons-this-is-marylands-last.html
