Gayego looks to be the second choice in the running of the 133rd Preakness Stakes.  His career record is 6-3-2-0, that's 50% winning percentage.  On 3/15 he ran in the San Felipe Stakes at San Anita.  He ran second behind favorite Georgia Boy.  In that race he came off the fence and prompted the pace into the backstretch, advanced and engaged on the second turn.  He gained a slim advantage in the drive, drifted out some and was overhauled late.  He came back on 4/12 at the Arkansas Derby Grade 1 Stake race at Oaklawn Park and was a big winner as he was just off the leader and made a huge move at the top of the stretch and won. 

His only bad start was in the Kentucky Derby, post 19 position, and aside from that try he’s never been worse than second.  He has proven he can go to the lead or stalk a fast pace and finish.  He does his better running from stalking range, and he figures to be able to revert to those tactics here.  I think Gayego is in a perfect spot here from post 12.  There is some speed in the race, so they will pressure Big Brown around the racetrack and Gayego can stalk the pace sitting 5th around the racetrack and make one big move to catch Big Brown.  With aggressive early handling and a more compact field than the one he faced in the Kentucky Derby, he figures to have every opportunity to prove he’s better than he showed last time.

Jockey Mike Smith is in for the ride.  Veteran of 57 starts, ranks third in Breeders’ Cup victories with 10, trailing only the retired duo of Jerry Bailey with 15 and Pat Day with 12.   In 2005, he rode Giacomo to an upset victory in the Kentucky Derby, resulting in a payoff of $102.60 for a $2 bet.  Eclipse Award winner as outstanding jockey in 1993 and 1994.  Also was national leader by money won in both years.  He is the tenth all-time leader in purse earnings with more than $180 million. 

The trainer of Gayego is Paulo Lobo.  Lobo's only Breeders' Cup starter won the Kentucky Oaks as a 20-to-1 longshot.  He captured the Alabama Stakes in Saratoga and finished second to champion Azeri in the Breeders' Cup Distaff. 

Behindatthebar was scratched on Friday from Saturday's 133rd Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course because of a bruise in his left front foot, trainer Todd Pletcher said.  Behindatthebar is 17th in graded-stakes earnings, which automatically gave the Todd Pletcher-trained colt a spot in a Triple Crown race of 2008. 

Behindatthebar drew post 5 of 13 entering into the Preakness, since he was a scratch each horse will move in one slot.  Big Brown will still be number #7 but start from the #6 in the starting gate.  The trainer of Behindatthebar, Todd Pletcher, said he was going to point him to the Belmont Stakes, June 7th, the third leg of the Triple Crown. 

• Behindatthebar: +1000
• Big Brown: -350
• Giant Moon: +2000
• Hey Byrn: +2000
• Icabad Crane: +2500
• Kentucky Bear: +1200
• Macho Again: +2000
• Racecar Rhapsody: +4000
• Riley tucker: +4000
• Stevil: +5000
• Tres Borrachos: +5000
• Yankees Bravo: +1600

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Hey Byrn, Preakness contender for Saturday draws post position #13 way on the outside.  On 3/29 he ran in the Florida Derby where he finished 4th and the winner of the race was Big Brown.  He took back a little after the start as he was bumped real hard in the first turn advanced along the inside on the far turn to reach contention but no further response.  He came back on 4/12 to win the Holy Bull Stakes at Gulfstream Park.  That distance of 1 3/16-mile is the same distance as the Preakness.  His record for his career is 8-4-2-0.  The oddsmakers at SBGglobal.com have Hey Byrn +2000 to win the Preakness Stakes.

Hey Byrn's only defeat this year was against Big Brown in the Florida Derby, where he had traffic problems out of the gate.  He is a speed horse so he will go out and challenge Big Brown for the lead.  If he wants a shot at winning he must be close to the pace early.  He has a racing style similar to Big Brown’s.  He ranks many notches below Big Brown.  Anyone backing Hey Byrn should not accept less than 20-1 odds.

Jockey Chuck C. Lopez is in for the ride.  He loves to go to the front end every time if you see how he rides and he has the horse to do so today in the Preakness.  He rode his 3,000th winner on Jan. 22, 2004, aboard Sunnyridge Sam at Aqueduct.  He earned his first Monmouth Park riding title in 1998 and has been leading rider at Meadowlands twice.  In his only Breeders' Cup mount to date, he rode Gottcha Gold to a second-place finish in the 2007 Dirt Mile. 

The trainer of Hey Byrn is Edward Plesa Jr.  Plesa has consistently ranked among Calder’s leading trainers for two decades and ranks fourth all-time in wins at the track.  Through Dec. 31, 2007, Plesa ranked in the top 40 trainers by earnings; his runners had won 81 of 505 races for $3,011,936 in earnings.  He was honored with an induction into Calder’s Hall of Fame in September 2006.

• Behindatthebar: +1000
• Big Brown: -350
• Giant Moon: +2000
• Hey Byrn: +2000
• Icabad Crane: +2500
• Kentucky Bear: +1200
• Macho Again: +2000
• Racecar Rhapsody: +4000
• Riley tucker: +4000
• Stevil: +5000
• Tres Borrachos: +5000
• Yankees Bravo: +1600

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Check out the current line for this game at SBG Global.

MLB betting Preview
New York Mets at New York Yankees
Sunday, 8:05 pm Eastern – ESPN

The Mets and Yankees could both use the emotion of this series. "Being a [former] player, I understand how important it is to the city," Yankees’ manager Joe Girardi said. "It's amazing to me. It's kind of like a playoff atmosphere to me, because of the senses of all the fans. When you're walking someplace, whether they're a Mets fan or a Yankees fan, there's a lot more responses. I think it's enjoyable and I think it's great for the game."

Neither team is scoring much lately so pitching could decide the series.  The Yankees are still without Alex Rodriguez and Jorge Posada. "You definitely want to have bragging rights in your city," the Yankees’ Johnny Damon said. "Every game we play we've got to go out and play like it's the Mets series or a Red Sox series. Shame on us if we can't get up. We need to come ready to play against any team, rivalry or no rivalry." 

The series is also important to the Mets and manager Willie Randolph.  There are rumors that his job may be in jeopardy if the team flops this weekend against the Yankees.  The Mets and Yankees split six games last season.  Overall, the Yankees lead in the all-time series 35-25 against the Mets. The Yankees lead the Major Leagues with an all-time record of 113-79 (.589) in Interleague Play, tied with Oakland for the most wins. They were 10-8 last year.

Here were the MLB betting stats as the series began on Friday.  The Mets are 10-26 in their last 36 Interleague road games. 

The Yankees are 47-14 in their last 61 Interleague home games.  The Yankees are 18-7 in the last 25 home games against the Mets.

The Over is 4-1 in the Mets last 5 Interleague road games. The Over is 6-2 in the Mets last 8 Interleague games overall. The Over is 5-2-1 in the Mets last 8 road games.

The Under is 5-0 in the Yankees last 5 home games. The Under is 30-10-1 in the Yankees last 41 overall. The Over is 8-2 in the last 10 meetings at Yankee Stadium between the two teams. 

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Preakness contender Riley Tucker has a career record 7-1-3-2 and likes to hit the board.  His prep race came on 4/19 in the Lexington Stakes at Keeneland.  He finished 3rd that day at odds of 10-1.  The winner of that race was Behindatthebar that will be also running in the Preakness.  In that race he was three wide behind the leaders on the second turn, closed late with a furlong to go but couldn't reach leaders and hung on for third.  That gives him a sharp prep within the 2-5 week layoff.  The oddsmakers at bodoglife.com has Riley Tucker 50 to 1 to win the Preakness Stakes.

He only had one off-the-board finish in his career.  His run style is generally close to the pace within two lengths, and make that one big move at the end to try to catch the leaders.  It is possible with some deep closers in the field, Riley Tucker will be able to track the heavy favorite, make a middle move, and perhaps gain a minor share.  Preakness day Riley Tucker will probably go off the largest price of his career, but will have a shot to hit the board if he gets in good forwardly, placed early and make that one big move.

Jockey Edgar Prado knows all too well about this race track at Pimlico as he started his career here.  He won the 2005 New York riding title with 206 victories.  After winning Belmont’s 2006 spring/summer meet, he won his third Saratoga riding title, taking 46 races in 216 mounts.  Has had three Breeders' Cup winners the previous two years: Folklore (2005 Juvenile Fillies), Silver Train (2005 Sprint) and Round Pond (2006 Distaff).  Big Brown could take the 2008 Triple Crown; so make sure you bookmark OnlineSportsHandicapping.com for all your premiere Triple Crown picks and horse racing previews

Preakness Picks and betting odds at BodogLife.com:

• Macho Again: 20/1
• Tres Borrachos: 50/1 
• Icabad Crane: 25/1
• Yankee Bravo: 20/1 
• Behindatthebar: 10/1 
• Racecar Rhapsody: 50/1
• Big Brown: 1/4
• Kentucky Bear: 14/1
• Stevil: 50/1
• Riley Tucker: 50/1
• Giant Moon: 20/1
• Gayego: 16/1
• Hey Byrn: 25/1