Looking at Lucky was clearly favored over Super Saver in the Black-Eyed Susan/Preakness double pool, which attracted $837,210, but Super Saver was a narrow favorite in the Friday win-pool betting (Maryland only) of $126,351.
Here are the willpays on the double, with those payoffs then converted to equivalent win odds, as well as the actual win-pool totals from Friday:
Lookin at Lucky's support wasn't limited to those who liked Acting Happy; the last flash of double willpays showed him favored over Super Saver with 7 of the 9 Black-Eyed Susan runners. Super Saver was favored only with beaten favorite Tidal Pool ($20 vs. $21) and with 20-1 CC's Pal ($284 vs. $328.)
Paddy O'Prado is the third choice in the win pool at 8-1, but Dublin was the third choice in the double betting at the equivalent of 8-1.
If Lookin at Lucky in fact goes off as the post-time favorite, it would be the second straight year that the Derby winner was not favored at Pimlico. Mine That Bird was the third choice in last year's Preakness at 6.60-1, behind Rachel Alexandra (1.80-1) and Derby runner-up Pioneerofthenile (6.10-1.) Giacomo was also the third choice in 2005, at 6-1, behind behind the victorious Afleet Alex (3.30-1) and High Fly (5.10-1). Point Given was narrowly favored over Monarchos in 2001 when both went off at 2.30-1.
The Black-Eyed Susan card was a bit of a disappointment after 32 late scratches, which knocked races such as the Hilltop from 11 to 6 runners and the Miss Preakness from 7 to 5. No pick-6 carryover as there were four winners at $2707 apiece, but a $10,800 carryover wasn't going to get anyone's blood boiling anyway. And at least it appears that the two fillies and riders who went down on the far turn of the Black-Eyed Susan -- Diva Delite (Julien Leparoux) and Seeking the Title (Kent Desormeaux) -- emerged relatively unscathed, though Leparoux complained of body soreness.
Acting Happy, a Sigel family homebred by Empire Maker, is an interesting addition to the 3-year-old filly stakes ranks. She made the unusual move of winning her racing debut in a nine-furlong race (I'm remembering Pine Island doing the same thing [Update: It was 8.5f]), and then she ran second in a pair of allowance tries against the well-regarded Christine Daae and Streaker.
First post for the Preakness card is 10:45 a.m.. I've got some midnight oil to burn.
