While the inside post for the Preakness isn’t nearly as treacherous as it is for the Derby, no trainer would select the No. 1 hole if given the choice. That’s exactly what American Pharoah, the Derby winner and Saturday’s odds-on favorite, was handed.

Dortmund, American Pharoah’s stablemate, drew the No. 2 post.

“I was surprised I drew 1-2. I hate drawing next to each other with my horses,” Baffert said.  “But they’ll be easy to watch now.”

Post positions are clearly more important in the 20-horse field at the Derby.  With a much shorter field and a long run to the first turn at Pimlico Race Course, an inside post is more manageable at the Preakness.

“With eight horses, it’s a different vibe here,” said Baffert. “But they still have to break well.  You don’t like to be down on the inside, but unless you can redraw it or something, we’re just going to have to deal with it.”

The draw figures to have little impact on betting interest in American Pharoah, who was assigned 4-to-5 morning-line odds by track handicapper Keith Feustle.  

Dortmund, who ran third in the Derby, is the second favorite at 7-to-2.

Baffert said both his colts arrived safe-and-sound at Pimlico on Wednesday.

“They shipped well, everything looks good,” he said. “(Pharoah) looks happy, he’s very happy – both of them. So we feel good about it, so we just gotta get around there the quickest.”

The Linemakers’ Mike Wilkening: Baffert’s stellar Preakness history

Firing Line, the third betting choice at the Preakness after finishing second in the Derby, drew the favorable outside post for Saturday’s race.

“It certainly gives us options from out there,” said trainer Simon Callaghan.  “If they go fast, we can just rate the lead, and if not we can be more forwardly-placed.  You never know how the race is going to unfold – we certainly expected more speed in the Derby – so it’s nice being out there.”

Pharoah, Dortmund and Firing Line are the only three horses priced in the single digits in the morning-line.

Here is the eight-horse field for the 140th running of the Preakness Stakes.

SN’s Steve Petrella: Get to know the field

h/t Daily Racing Form 

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