RACHEL ALEXANDRA ODDS ON FAVOURITE FOR THE 2009 PREAKNESS STAKES

It surely looks set to be a wild and woolly day at Pimlico this Saturday as we gear up for the 134th running of the Preakness Stakes- the 2nd rung of the Triple Crown ladder. We've got plenty of drama heading into the action as major question marks exist over the head of Kentucky Oaks winner Rachel Alexandra. The Preakness is restricted to a mere 14 runners (6 fewer than the Kentucky Derby) and 13 horses are already confirmed. With only one slot left it looks like Mark Allen, co-owner of Mine That Bird, will be entering his other contender Indy Express. The fear runs deep for rivals of Rachel Alexandra, as she recorded a Kentucky Oaks victory margin of 20 ¼ lengths- literally embarrassing the rest of the competition. The issue is further compounded now that the jockey who piloted Mine That Bird to a Derby victory, Calvin "50/1!" Borel has now signed up to partner Rachel Alexandra for the rest of the season. Allen told Thoroughbred Times that "I just want my rider back". The chief oddsmaker at Pimlico Racecourse, Frank Carulli, declared that Rachel Alexandra will be the odds-on favourite should she be listed to win the race. A female horse has not won the Preakness since 1924. Rachel Alexandra comes out of the same barn that produced Curlin, the 2007 Preakness winner. Paying a $100,000 supplemental fee looks like a small margin for Rachel Alexandra's connections, but we may be seeing the politics of horseracing at their upper echelons all week. We will be sure to keep Betting Choice readers up to date with the latest news and tips from the Preakness stakes. Big Drama - 20/1Flying Private - 20/1Friesen Fire - 8/1General Quarters - 9/1Hull - 18/1Luv Gov - 30/1Mine That Bird - 7/2Musket Man - 8/1Papa Clem - 8/1Pioneerof The Nile - 6/1Take The Points - 20/1Terrain - 25/1Tone It Down - 35/1