Laoban Preakness Odds & Preview
After finishing fourth in the Blue Grass Stakes, can Laoban surprise on Saturday when he runs in the 2016 Preakness Stakes?
What are the odds that Laoban wins the Preakness?
Laoban currently has 33/1 odds to win Saturday’s race according to oddsmakers from online sports book Bovada.lv. While he shares the same odds as Fellowship, Awesome Speed and Lani, those 33/1 odds are also the longest to win the Preakness Stakes this year. For comparison, Nyquist is the favorite to win at -160 odds.
Who comprise Laoban’s team?
His jockey is Cornelio Velasquez, his trainer is Eric J. Guillot and his owners are McCormick Racing and Southern Equine Stable. Velasquez has amassed five wins in the Breeders’ Cup World Championships, with his latest coming aboard Marathon in 2011. His best finish in the Triple Crown was a runner-up performance aboard Closing Argument in the 2005 Kentucky Derby.
How has Laoban faired throughout his career?
In five starts he has zero wins but he does have two second-place showings and one third-place finish. In his final prep for the Preakness he finished fourth in the Grade 1 Blue Grass Stakes and placed second in the Grade 3 Gotham on March 3. He also finished in the money in the Grade 3 Sham Stakes on January 9.
Could Laoban be a sleeper to win the Preakness Stakes?
It’s unlikely due to his running style. As a front-runner, he set the pace in both the Gotham Stakes and the Blue Grass Stakes before fading. We saw as Destin set the pace in the Kentucky Derby only to fall to sixth as he faded down the stretch. Nyquist and Exaggerator are too good of closers for Laoban to win wire to wire. Best-case scenario he finishes in the money, but those 33/1 odds don’t offer enough value to bit on Laoban to win it all on Saturday.
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