A field of eleven three-year-olds will start for the 141st running of the Xpressbet.com Preakness Stakes, the middle leg of the Triple Crown series, of which the Kentucky Derby a fortnight ago was the first. At 1-3/16 miles (1900 m.), the Preakness Stakes, to be run at Pimlico racecourse in Baltimore, Maryland, USA, is the shortest of the Triple Crown races. A large crowd is expected and police leave has been cancelled to enable adequate security at the track for the event, which is one of the biggest contributors to the local economy.

As in recent years, a long card has been planned – it starts at 10:30 a.m. local on Saturday, May 21^st – and the feature will be the 13th race of a 14-event programme. The $1,500,000 (Rs.10 crores) race is scheduled to go off at 6:45 p.m. EDT (04:15 a.m. Sunday in India). Unfortunately the weather forecast is none too promising. Friday's balmy high of around 24 degrees Celsius is expected to plummet to a nippy 14 degrees the following day, with a 90% chance of rain!

Only three of those who ran in the Kentucky Derby have been swiftly returned to action here, a mere two weeks after that race. The list is headed by unbeaten Kentucky Derby winner Nyquist (by Uncle Mo), whose outstanding record of 8 wins from as many starts has ensured that he will start as an odds-on favourite here. Trained for Canadian J. Paul Reddam by Doug O'Neill in California, he has been ridden throughout by Mexican native Mario Gutierrez, who will continue his association. They will break from gate # 3, the same stall from which Secretariat started back in 1973. More recently, California Chrome blazed his way to glory in the Preakness Stakes when drawn three.

Sloppy tracks can often be fast and fast tracks generally favour front runners. Nyquist has shown that he is versatile in that he can make his own pace, or sit just off it, and thus he ought not to be inconvenienced by the strategy required in the expected conditions. With his stamina not in doubt, look to the big bay to be in the leading group throughout. Then – in theory – he should put the race to bed on straightening for home.

Perhaps you are thinking: this is "pick-up" money? There is no such thing in racing and there are 10 rivals itching to prove it. Foremost amongst them is the 3 to 1 Exaggerator (by Curlin), a fast-finishing runner-up in the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky, where he was beaten just over a length. Not deterred by four career defeats at the hands of Nyquist, his connections – the Desormeaux brothers, trainer Keith and rider Ken – are probably hoping the rain comes down hard. After all, Exaggerator ran a "monster" race on sloppy going in the Santa Anita Derby last month, scoring by over 6 lengths despite being way back early.

Also, Exaggerator enjoyed the muddy surface when annexing the Delta Downs Jackpot Stakes late last year, so shapes as a live threat to Nyquist, given the expected conditions. Although his connections have announced publicly that he is going to drop back in the early part, one can expect his rider will try and wake him up a shade earlier than last time out, in which case he would have a great opportunity to reel in the front runners. Incidentally, his sire won the "Preakness" back in 2007. 

Tactics will obviously play a decisive part in the ultimate result, more so as the field is loaded with speedy types. No less than four of the runners – Awesome Speed (by Awesome Again), and three sons of Uncle Mo, Abiding Star, Laoban and Uncle Lino – like to dictate terms or sit just off the pace. Which, if any, of these will actually undertake the task of cutting the wind remains to be seen. The most likely contender for this job is Laoban, yet a maiden after 5 starts, who tends to take a clear lead early. However, the 30 to 1 shot is losing the blinkers he normally wears, so might relax more.

Awesome Speed has won 4-of-6 but his overall stamina for the trip is suspect, which justifiably accounts for his long price of 30 to 1. At the identical price on the Morning Line is Uncle Lino, who failed to garner enough points to contest the Kentucky Derby but has posted some of the fastest speed figures in the field in his previous starts. Thus in his case, the odds appear generous, just as they do for the 30 to 1 Abiding Star. The latter's career can be neatly broken into 2 parts – half a dozen starts without a win, followed by a swift change of gear – five victories in a row! Now in splendid form, he is clearly one to watch.

Speed is also the trump card of a pair of new challengers, Collected (by City Zip) and Stradivari (by Medaglia D'Oro), both of which hail from the well-stocked barns of prominent trainers. Collected, who will probably start at around 12 to 1, is based in the California establishment of Bob Baffert, who has been pointing his colt towards the Preakness to try and take advantage of the relative freshness of his charge. The chestnut comes off a pair of wins in less demanding company and will probably find this a more difficult mountain to climb. That said, Baffert has won this race no less than six times, so must be in with a chance. 

A 10 to 1 prospect, Stradivari represents the East, trained as he is by Todd Pletcher, whose CV is as yet incomplete as it lacks a previous Preakness winner. This exciting colt has won his last 2 starts by a combined margin of some 26 lengths, which suggests he is something of a freak. The keen sense of anticipation at his forthcoming performance in the Preakness is tempered somewhat by the fact that his times have not been special as also by the fact that he has never run in a stakes event before.

Two closers, both longshots, might benefit late if the early pace is suicidal. These are Kentucky Derby ninth, Lani (by Tapit), trained in Japan and hero of the UAE Derby in Dubai in March, and Cherry Wine (by Paddy O'Prado). The former has been more relaxed of late and looks likely to improve at his second American start so might represent some value at 30 to 1, while the latter is slightly better supported at 20 to 1.

Finally, we come to Fellowship (by Awesome Of Course) who needs to make up significant leeway against Nyquist, who beat him by over four lengths when they clashed in the Florida Derby.

Nyquist is a champion and it rarely pays to desert a champion. That said, he hardly represents value at his cramped odds, particularly if it rains. Also no one can predict the manner in which the race pans out early so something could well surprise. It's a race to savour rather than wager on, except perhaps on "Place".

The card follows:

All 11 runners are colts and will carry 126 lbs.