2010 Preakness betting will include the Nick Zito trained Jackson Bend. The horse finished a disappointing 12th in the Kentucky Derby but you may not want to throw him out as you get ready to bet Preakness Stakes odds on Saturday.
2010 Preakness betting odds on Saturday are likely to list Jackson Bend at double-digit odds. The horse is very capable of bouncing back from a trouble trip in the Derby. He worked a bullet half-mile in :46.60 at Churchill Downs this week. It was the fastest workout of 69 horses at the distance. “It was really quick, but the good thing about it is that he did it on his own,” trainer Nick Zito said. “Stacy (exercise rider) was not asking him at all. If he has a good week, this is the shot you take. He will get a break after this.”
Jackson Bend is the grandson of 1994 Preakness winner Tabasco Cat. It would not be the first time that Zito has had a horse rebound after a bad Kentucky Derby to win the Preakness. In 1996 it was Louis Quatorze finishing a poor 16th in the Derby but then winning the Preakness two weeks later.
Jackson Bend has some good numbers in his favor. He was the best 2-year old horse in Florida last year. He had a 100 Beyer Speed Figure in the $400,000 In Reality at Calder. Before the Kentucky Derby the horse had finished first or second in all nine of his starts. He finished behind Eskendereya in the Fountain of Youth and the Wood Memorial but not many horses beat Eskendereya so that is not a concern.
The favorite has won seven of the last nine in Preakness Stakes odds but that doesn’t mean a longshot can’t get in the money. Two years ago when Big Brown won as the big favorite it was Macho Again coming in second at odds of 39-1. Five years ago it was Scrappy T finishing second behind the favored Afleet Alex and that exacta paid $152.60. Funny Cide was heavily bet in 2003 and won the race but the exact paid more than $120 when Midway Road finished second.
Horses from the Derby have won 23 of the last 26 Preakness Stake and in 2010 Preakness Stakes betting there will be five horses coming from the Derby including Jackson Bend.