Preakness Stakes: Countdown to Post Time

We're only a few hours away from post time and with Big Brown settling in nicely in his corner barn suite occupied each year by the winner of the Kentucky Derby, Pimlico Race Course is finally ready for the 133rd running of the Preakness Stakes.

The favorite to win the Preakness, Big Brown arrived in Baltimore three hours late on Wednesday night and was accompanied by police escort to Pimlico. Clearly the only celebrity in attendance at this race (the Kentucky Derby attracts Hollywood celebrities), Big Brown has everyone hoping and believing in a big win. A Preakness victory, after all, would open the door to a Triple Crown win at the Belmont Stakes three weeks later. And that, according to his trainer Rick Dutrow Jr., would be "awesome". (Read more on Big Brown's big arrival at Pimlico here.)

Once again, here are the race details on today's Preakness Stakes classic:

TV: NBC
POST: 6:09 p.m. EST WEIGHTS: 126 pounds. DISTANCE: 1 3/16 miles.
PURSE: $1 million (First place: $650,000).

PP Horse, Jockey, Trainers, Odds
1 Macho Again, Julien R. Leparoux, Dallas Stewart, 20-1
2 Tres Borrachos, Tyler Baze, Beau Greely, 30-1
3 Icabad Crane, Jeremy Rose, H. Graham Motion, 30-1
4 Yankee Bravo, Alex O. Solis, Patrick Gallagher, 15-1
5 Behindatthebar, David Romero Flores, Todd Pletcher, 10-1
6 Racecar Rhapsody, Robby Albarado, Kenneth McPeek, 30-1
7 Big Brown, Kent J. Desormeaux, Richard Dutrow Jr., 1-2
8 Kentucky Bear, Jamie Theriot, Reade Baker, 15-1
9 Stevil, John R. Velazquez, Nick Zito, 30-1
10 Riley Tucker, Edgar S. Prado, William Mott, 30-1
11 Giant Moon, Ramon A. Dominguez, Richard Schosberg, 30-1
12 Gayego, Mike E. Smith, Paulo Lobo, 8-1
13 Hey Byrn, Charles C. Lopez, Eddie Plesa Jr., 20-1

Stay tuned to my blog for Preakness Stakes race results following this afternoon's nail biter at Pimlico.