Northern Giant Racehorse Preakness Stakes Preview

Northern Giant
1-2-2, 9 Races

Notable Past Performances

Race
Arkansas Derby (G1)
Lane's End (G2)
Rising Star (G2)

Distance
1 1/8
1 1/8
1 1/16

Odds
9.20
3.70
53.80

Post
4
6
7

End Result
9
2
3

Normally when it takes six races and a step up in age to be able to break your maiden, you're not in good shape, and that's precisely why Northern Giant is most likely going to go off as one of the longest shots that the Preakness Stakes has ever seen.

Perhaps part of the problem that this horse has had is the fact that trainer D. Wayne Lukas has changed his jockey following every race that he has ran. Jockey Calvin Borel has taken this mount twice, but it'll be Terry Thompson who becomes the ninth different jockey to mount this horse.

Preakness Stakes $100 Free Promo - Plus get 50% cash back on all Derby, Preakness and Belmont bets!
CLICK HERE FOR FULL DETAILS

Once he reached graded races, Northern Giant did perform well at the Rising Star and the Lane's End. However, after finishing ninth in the Arkansas Derby against a field very similar to the one that he is going to face on Saturday, Lukas can't possibly believe that this is a contending Triple Crown colt.
Instead, many think that it is Northern Giant's job to try to wear out the speed of this race to set the stage for Dublin to steal the show right at the very end. There's a lot of doubt whether or not this horse can run for 1 1/8 miles, but if he can get onto the rail early with his inside position and box in Borel and Super Saver, Dublin could very well have a chance.
Without an impressive pedigree to stand on either, it's hard to see how anyone could back this horse unless the weather turns sloppy and unpredictable like it was in the Kentucky Derby. Northern Giant may see his name on television for a bit, but Lukas knows that this is nothing more than a rabbit for everyone else to chase in the field.