2011 Preakness Stakes Post Positions: 14 Things You Need to Know

by Steve Davidowitz | May 19 2011

The weather may be dicey right up to post time for the 136th Preakness Stakes at Pimlico on Saturday, but after post positions were drawn on Wednesday this is what people close to the horses involved say they know…

#1 ASTROLOGY - Trainer Steve Asmussen did not want to comment on his post draw for this race, but he may have been under the assumption that this inside post is as bad at Pimlico as it is at Churchill Downs for the Kentucky Derby. (It is not, however.) At Pimlico, the rail is a great place to be. Whether that helps Astrology, remains to be see; when last looked he was second to weaker horses in the Jerome mile and the Sunland Derby.

#2 NORMAN ASBJORNSON - Trainer Chris Grove said he was hoping for "a little further outside,"but I could not tell you why or if it really has any chance to make a difference. When last looked he was a distant 6th in the Wood Memorial and a well beaten fourth in the Gotham.

#3 KING CONGIE - Trainer Tom Albertrani said: "He's fit and ready and we're positive about his chances. Can he handle dirt? Well, that's what we're gonna find out on Saturday.”

#4 FLASHPOINT - Trainer Wesley Ward, who took over for Rick Dutrow three weeks ago, said simply: "We drew a good post."And he's right. Flashpoint projects to be the serious front running speed in this Preakness. At the very least he ensures a much quicker pace than the 1:13.40 snail's-like pace we saw in the Kentucky Derby.

#5 SHACKLEFORD - Trainer Dale Romans let Michael Lauffer the owner do the talking: "It's fine; we've been on the outside two of the last three races, so it will be nice to be near the inside. We've got speed, so we should be able to save a little ground into the first turn, which is what we want to do. He should be in the top three or four horses going into the first turn." True enough, but this time he will have at least two other fast horses pressing or pushing him.

#6 SWAY AWAY - Trainer Jeff Bonde let the horse's racing manager Mersad Metanovic, speak to the post: "Excellent,"he said. "We don't want No.1 and we don't want No. 14. We expect him to be reserved off the pace to make one run. Garrett Gomez is a nice, patient rider and he's got all the credentials. Nobody has to tell him how to do it.”

#7 MIDNIGHT INTERLUDE - Trainer Bob Baffert said, "Things are looking up. No. 7 is a good post. You don't want to be in the 1, 2 or 14, but everything else is fine. I think we should have been closer up in the Derby, and I think we'll be there here."

#8 DANCE CITY - Trainer Todd Pletcher said: "I think it's good. Most of the speed is inside of us. Being right in the middle is a good spot. I'm pretty happy sitting there."

#9 MUCHO MACHO MAN - Trainer Kathy Ritvo, said: "The post is great. Any place out there would have been perfect for me. I'm going to let my jockey (Rajiv Maragh) ride his own race."Mucho Macho Man tends to find a way to make his presence felt. Mucho Macho Man has in fact been the most reliable performer of any of the Triple Crown horses to date, with in the money finishes in several Graded stakes dating back to last fall, including a win in the 2011 Risen Star in New Orleans and a third in the Kentucky Derby.

#10 DIALED IN - Trainer Nick Zito said: "I think it's fine. Everything looks good. It's not going to bother him at all. I think if you get over, you know you're in good shape. Normally, a closer, you like to be inside because you're already there, but you can get bottled up or whatever. Julien Leparoux should have a good shot to make his big run at it."

#11 ANIMAL KINGDOM - Trainer Graham Motion, whose horse was 21-1 in the Kentucky Derby and came out of that 2-3/4 length victory as the 2-1 morning line favorite in this race, said: "It's great. I couldn't be happier, really. I just would rather be on the outside than stuck down on the inside. I was a little worried when 1 and 14 were left. I've started from 14 before and you're almost on the outside rail. That's a tough spot."Motion also said that "my horse is doing well," and "there is going to be some speed in there this time and that shouldn't hurt us."

#12 ISN'T HE PERFECT - Guyana born trainer Doodnauth Shivmangal was not too happy: "I don't like the 12 post, but what can you do?  We will try our best. We've got the speed to come out of there, but I would have preferred to have 5 or 6."Frankly, like a few others in this field, I doubt this horse could finish in the money if he had a 50 yard head start.

#13 CONCEALED IDENTITY - Trainer Dean Gaudet knows to whom he should let handle the speaking part of this assignment -- his wife Linda Gaudet, co-owner of the horse. Mrs. Gaudet certainly expressed more confidence in this longshot than most of the betting favorites: "No. 13 is not a bad post,"she said. "My horse is dead fit and ready to run. His last race he drew off and galloped out well. It's a long run to the first turn and we'll make sure he's a little closer to the front."
 
#14 MR. COMMONS - Trainer John Shirreffs was not a happy camper, but true to his nature he cracked a funny line after drawing the extreme outside post. Shirreffs said simply: "It's better than the 20."

So with all of that my friends, I am sure you found enough info to bolster your confidence for the horse you liked and/or have found plenty of cause to throw a few bums out. Trust me, I am doing the same. Happy Preakness!

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