Kentucky and Preakness winners likely to compete in 2013 Belmont Stakes

The latest edition of the annual Preakness Stakes didn’t go as most horserace betting enthusiasts expected.  Only days after a highly commented victory in the 2013 Kentucky Derby, Orb entered the Preakness as a 1-1 favorite and a strong prospect to win the first Triple Crown since 1978. But after weeks of buzz, the expectation and excitement that surrounded Orb withered in just seconds. The 3-year old colt struggled to finish the race in fourth-place, dropping all chances to contend for the Triple Crown.

Against all predictions, Oxbow, who started the race in sixth place with 15-1 odds, completed the mile and three-sixteenths in 1 minute 57.54 second, shattering Orb’s expectations and taking the second jewel of the Triple Crown.  Orb was bested by two Kentucky Derby participants: Itsmyluckday (15th at the 2013 Kentucky Derby) and Mylute (5th at the Derby), who finished the race in second and third places respectively.

Oxbow’s unexpected win represents the sixth victory at the Preakness Stakes for For Hall of Fame trainer, D. Wayne Lukas. Previous winners at this race include Charismatic (1999), Timber Country (1995), Tabasco Cat (1994), Tank's Prospect (1985), and Codex (1980).

But despite the loss, Orb’s trainer Shug McGaughey says he'd like to run the horse in the coming Belmont Stakes. "We just all came to the conclusion that we should just watch Orb and see. I think everything is in good shape. We'd like to run” said McGaughey.

If everything goes as expected, the winners of the 2013 Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes will meet in the 1½ -mile Belmont.  This will mark the fourth time since 2001 that the winners of the Derby and Preakness meet in third and final leg of the Triple Crown. The last time that happened was back in 2011 with Animal Kingdom and Shackleford, both of whom were defeated by Ruler On Ice.
 Itsmyluckyday, runner up in this year’s Preakness, is likely to skip the Belmont Stakes and concentrate on other races like the Haskell at Monmouth Park, where Eddie Plesa Jr. trains a string of horses in the summer.

Mylute, third place in the Preakness, is also under review for the Belmont.  The Belmont Stakes is expected to include Golden Soul and Revolutionary, who finished second and third in the Derby.  The list of contenders for the 2013 Belmont could also include Freedom Child and the Bob Baffert-trained duo of Code Westand Power Broker.

The third leg of the Triple Crown, the Belmont Stakes, is set for June 8 in New York. You can bet on horseracing at Sports Betting Online and own 10% cashback on your wins or loses. For more information, please click here.