We're now a day away from the 136th running of the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico, and if historical odds are any indication, Animal Kingdom could very well find its way galloping to victory. Odds were released Wednesday after post positions were drawn and Animal Kingdom sat as a 2-to-1 favorite. A quick scope around the Internet indicates the colt remains the odds on favorite.
Thanks to the volumes of information available, I thought it was worth taking a look back at some of the winners over the last 25 years and what kind of odds they had:
| Year | Horse | Odds |
| 2010 | Lookin at Lucky | 2.40 |
| 2009 | Rachel Alexandra | *1.80 |
| 2008 | Big Brown | *0.20 |
| 2007 | Curlin | 3.40 |
| 2006 | Bernardini | 12.90 |
| 2005 | Afleet Alex | *3.30 |
| 2004 | Smarty Jones | *0.70 |
| 2003 | Funny Cide | *1.90 |
| 2002 | War Emblem | *2.80 |
| 2001 | Point Given | *2.30 |
| 2000 | Red Bullet | 6.20 |
| 1999 | Charismatic | 8.40 |
| 1998 | Real Quiet | 2.50 |
| 1997 | Silver Charm | 3.10 |
| 1996 | Louis Quatorze | 8.50 |
| 1995 | Timer Country | *1.90 |
| 1994 | Tabasco Cat | 3.60 |
| 1993 | Prairie Bayou | *2.20 |
| 1992 | Pine Bluff | *3.50 |
| 1991 | Hansel | 9.10 |
| 1990 | Summer Squall | 2.40 |
| 1989 | Sunday Silence | 2.10 |
| 1988 | Risen Star | 6.80 |
| 1987 | Alysheba | *2.00 |
| 1986 | Snow Chief | 2.60 |
In looking through that list of winner odds, the longest shot was in 2006 when Bernardini claimed victory in a race marred by the injury and eventual death of race favorite Barbaro. Heading into the Preakness, Barbaro was viewed as the strongest candidate for the Triple Crown in quite some time. Barbaro entered the race as an even money favorite to take the second leg of the Triple Crown. Unfortunately Barbaro suffered a broken leg and that opened the door for the rest of the field. Bernardini was an 8-1 underdog and was the biggest underdog to win since Deputed Testimony in 1983.
Bernardini aside, race favorites have generally fared quite well. Since at least 1998, every winner except Bernardini was either the favorite to win or one of the top two favorites. That doesn't guarantee much of anything for Animal Kingdom, but it could certainly be enough to inspire a few dollars to be wagered on the colt. I wouldn't be surprised though, if more money came in on Dialed In, sitting with the second lowest odds at 9-2.
The 2011 Preakness Stakes gets underway on May 21 at Pimlico racetrack. Stay with our 2011 Preakness Stakes StoryStream for odds, contender profiles, post positions and more. To look back at the Derby, check out SB Nation's 2011 Kentucky Derby StoryStream. Also, our horse racing blog And Down The Stretch They Come has two must-read resources for Derby and Preakness fans: A Beginner's Guide To Following Horse Racing and a glossary of horse racing terms.