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Triple Crown Betting Online: Sporting Chance has little chance to win the Preakness Stakes, but another entry for legendary trainer D. Wayne Lukas can’t be discounted. With two wins and a show in his first three races, Sporting Chance opened his career in fine style. However, his victory in the seven-furlong Grade 1 Hopeful Stakes last August was his last. It appears as though he’s not well suited for distance with his first three races all less than a mile. He finished second in his debut race last June and won his next start at Saratoga by more than two lengths with both run at five-and-a-half furlongs.
The Preakness Stakes will be run on Saturday, May 19, 2018 with post time set for 6:20 p.m. ET at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore. Catch the Preakness Stakes live on NBC.
Sporting Chance
Career Record: 2-1-1
Career Earnings: $409,790
Preakness Stakes Odds at BookMaker.eu: +3300
With a good showing in his first three races that were all less than a mile, Lukas stretched Sporting Chance out to a mile and 1/16th at the Southwest Stakes, which resulted in a third-place showing. His last four races have all been a mile or longer and the brown colt hasn’t finished higher than third, which likely affected his opening odds. Sporting Chance was cruising to a victory at the Hopeful Stakes until he unexpectedly ducked toward the middle of the track about 50 yards from the wire. Jockey Luis Saez stayed on and straightened him out to win by a neck over Free Drop Billy.
Why Sporting Chance Will Win the Preakness Stakes
We’ve seen flashes from Sporting Chance as he gets stretched out to longer distances. He ran in the Kentucky Derby undercard, finishing fourth in the slop at the Pat Day Mile. And he was groomed for longer distances after his first three races. Sporting Chance had a five-month layoff before making his three-year-old debut
In his final race before competing at Churchill Downs, Sporting Chance was in contention down the stretch at the Blue Grass Stakes before again veering off course. He held on for third-place behind Good Magic and Flameaway, but was subsequently penalized for interference and placed fourth.
Why Sporting Chance Won't Win the Preakness Stakes
It’s not a good sign when a horse ducks out of position and it’s a worse sign when it happens continually. That’s been the case with Sporting Chance, who was penalized at the Blue Grass Stakes, knocking him off the board in a well run race. And the colt hasn’t had much continuity with his rider. Sporting Chance has had a different jockey in each of his last four races.
The Final Verdict
As I’ve said before anything can happen, but Sporting Chance is a big underdog to win the Preakness Stakes his odds are right along with his recent showings. He hasn’t been as successful in the longer races and he has a tendency to veer off path. A colt that’s run seven races shouldn’t be doing that and not having a consistent rider could be a reason. Even with a perfect race it’s unlikely Sporting Chance has the goods to win at Pimlico.
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2018 Preakness Stakes Contenders
