Just hours from the 138th running of the Preakness Stakes, Orb remained the favorite. The winner at the Kentucky Derby, Orb arrived at Pimlico aiming to take a Triple Crown bid to Belmont. No horse has swept the Triple Crown races since Affirmed in 1978.
Complicating matters, Orb drew the rail when post positions were revealed on Wednesday. Only one horse has won in the Preakness Stakes when starting from the inside slot -- Tabasco Cat in 1994 -- in the past 51 years, according to The New York Times. With only nine horses in the field, it's possible the inside spot won't hurt Orb's chances in the 1 3/16-mile race.
"If it had come out the 1 in the Derby, you'd almost have felt like you needed to go home," Orb's trainer, Shug McGaughey said after the draw, via The Associated Press. "But I don't feel that way here."
Preakness Post Positions, Morning Line Odds (via Preakness.com):
Orb (Even)
Goldencents(8-1)
Titletown Five (30-1)
Departing(6-1)
Mylute (5-1)
Oxbow (15-1)
Will Take Charge (12-1)
Governor Charlie (12-1)
Itsmyluckyday (10-1)
The Preakness Stakes is the 12th race of the day at Pimlico and scheduled to begin at 6:20 p.m. EST, according to Preakness.com. The race will be televised on NBC.
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