Preakness Odds Update - 5:50 pm

Last update before the race:

1) Aikenite - 30-1 (down from 35-1)

2) Schoolyard Dreams - 14-1 (was as low as 12-1)

3) Pleasant Prince - 22-1 (bouncing between 22-1 and 23-1)

4) Northern Giant - 25-1

5) Yawanna Twist - 15-1

6) Jackson Bend - 11-1

7) Lookin at Lucky - 5-2 (up from 2-1)

8) Super Saver - 9-5 (down from 2-1)

9) Caracortado - 18-1 (down from 19-1)

10) Paddy O'Prado - 7-1 (down from 8-1)

11) First Dude - 25-1

12) Dublin - 9-1

Preakness Odds Update - 4:55 pm

1) Aikenite - 35-1

2) Schoolyard Dreams - 14-1 (bounced between 16 and 14 in the last couple of minutes)

3) Pleasant Prince - 25-1

4) Northern Giant - 25-1

5) Yawanna Twist - 15-1

6) Jackson Bend - 12-1 (up from 11-1)

7) Lookin at Lucky - 2-1

8) Super Saver - 2-1 (up from 9-5)

9) Caracortado - 19-1

10) Paddy O'Prado - 7-1

11) First Dude - 25-1

12) Dublin - 10-1 (still bouncing between 10-11)

Preakness Odds Update - 3:50 pm

1) Aikenite - 35-1

2) Schoolyard Dreams - 15-1

3) Pleasant Prince - 25-1

4) Northern Giant - 25-1

5) Yawanna Twist - 15-1

6) Jackson Bend - 11-1

7) Lookin at Lucky - 2-1

8) Super Saver - 9-5

9) Caracortado - 19-1 (down from 20-1)

10) Paddy O'Prado - 7-1

11) First Dude - 25-1

12) Dublin - 11-1 (up from 10-1 - been bouncing between 10-11)

Preakness Odds Update - 3:20 pm

1) Aikenite - 35-1

2) Schoolyard Dreams - 15-1

3) Pleasant Prince - 25-1

4) Northern Giant - 25-1 (down from 30-1)

5) Yawanna Twist - 15-1

6) Jackson Bend - 11-1

7) Lookin at Lucky - 2-1

8) Super Saver - 9-5

9) Caracortado - 20-1

10) Paddy O'Prado - 7-1 (down from 8-1)

11) First Dude - 25-1

12) Dublin - 10-1 (down from 11-1)

Preakness Odds Update - 2:50 pm

1) Aikenite - 35-1

2) Schoolyard Dreams - 15-1 (down from 16-1)

3) Pleasant Prince - 25-1

4) Northern Giant - 30-1 (up from 25-1)

5) Yawanna Twist - 15-1

6) Jackson Bend - 11-1

7) Lookin at Lucky - 2-1

8) Super Saver - 9-5

9) Caracortado - 20-1

10) Paddy O'Prado - 8-1

11) First Dude - 25-1

12) Dublin - 11-1 (up from 10-1)

Preakness Odds Update - 2:20 pm

1) Aikenite - 35-1

2) Schoolyard Dreams - 16-1

3) Pleasant Prince - 25-1

4) Northern Giant - 25-1

5) Yawanna Twist - 15-1

6) Jackson Bend - 11-1

7) Lookin at Lucky - 2-1

8) Super Saver - 9-5

9) Caracortado - 20-1

10) Paddy O'Prado - 8-1

11) First Dude - 25-1

12) Dublin - 10-1

Preakness Odds Update - 1:45 pm

1) Aikenite - 25-1

2) Schoolyard Dreams - 16-1

3) Pleasant Prince - 24-1

4) Northern Giant - 25-1

5) Yawanna Twist - 15-1

6) Jackson Bend - 11-1

7) Lookin at Lucky - 2-1

8) Super Saver - 9-5

9) Caracortado - 20-1

10) Paddy O'Prado - 8-1

11) First Dude - 25-1

12) Dublin - 11-1

Last Stop or Not?

For many years, the "Road to the Kentucky Derby" basically ended in the Coolmore Lexington Stakes at Keeneland with just two weeks before the big race. But, with an overflow field expected, there might be one more stop.

In the Coolmore Lexington, the two horses with the only shot to move on to the Derby are Uptowncharlybrown and Connemara. The connections for both horses were uncertain even if they were victorious that they would move to the first Saturday in May.

What other race could change the picture? Believe it or not, it's the Derby Trial which is run on opening day of the Churchill Downs Spring Meet. The Derby Trial, which many years ago was one of the major prep races for the Derby as the race produced eight Derby winners, has been de-emphasized over the years since it is run a week before the Derby.

This year, with the purse being increased to $200,000 (thanks in part to horse owner Robert LaPenta whose sponsorship helped rename the race after one his Derby Hopefuls, The Cliff's Edge), a win might propel another horse into the Derby field.

One such horse is Eightyfiveinafifty. The colt, who was thought to be a Derby contender early in the year, took a step back after he "bolted" during the running of the Whirlaway at Aqueduct and didn't finish the race. After a little time off, he came back with an easy win the Bay Shore Handicap on the same day that Eskendereya won the Wood Memorial.

That win plus the Derby Trial would put him at #21 on the current list and be the first win in if another horse drops out. Don't be surprised if another horse, who is outside the Top 20, takes a shot at the Derby Trial with the intent of rolling back the next week.

On Friday, another horse joined the fray with hopes of going from the Derby Trial to Derby. Pleasant Prince, who is currently 26th, looked to be out of the Derby after running seventh in the Blue Grass last Saturday. The colt, who narrowly lost the Florida Derby to Ice Box in March, will make his third start in four weeks in the Derby Trial.

Plus, don't forget that it's always a near certainty that at least horse one will either drop out or get hurt before next Wednesday.

The horses that are waiting to get in are:

21) Jackson Bend

22) Backtalk

23) Make Music For Me

24) A Little Warm and Setsuko

26) Pleasant Prince

27) Caracortado

28) Connemara

So just when you thought we finally had our field of 20....think again. That's what has made this Road to the Derby a great ride.

The Derby Dollars

Now that there are just three major Kentucky Derby preps left, the chances to earn that crucial money to make it into the starting gate are evaporating quickly.

Three talented horses that were on the "money bubble." took care of business on Saturday. Most notably, Eskendereya's (left) eye opening 9 3/4-length win in the Wood vaulted him to $600,000 in Graded Stakes earnings. According to my unofficial tally, that's #5 on the list.

The wire-to-wire Santa Anita Derby victory for Sidney's Candy (right) propelled him #4 ($630,000) on the list while American Lion rose to #10 ($378,000) after he captured the Illinois Derby.

Ironically, the runner-ups in the Wood and Santa Anita Derby could well be left out of the Derby. Jackson Bend, the Wood second place finisher, moved up to #17 with $230,000, but could easily be passed next weekend. Santa Anita Derby runner-up Setsuko, is in even more peril as he has $180,000 and is tied with two others (A Little Warm and Odysseus) at #24.

Others notables that are in even more trouble are:

#28 - Pleasant Prince - $162,500

Florida Derby runner-up may run one more time

#29 - Tempted to Tapit - $156,000

Trainer indicated that he may skip the Derby because of insufficient earnings

#30 - Caracortado - $153,000

Fourth in Santa Anita Derby and unlikely to run again before Derby

#31 - Connemara - $138,500

Todd Pletcher has not said if he will run again after finishing 3rd in Lane's End

#32 - Schoolyard Dreams - $137,500

Fourth in Wood Memorial and unlikely to run again before Derby

#35 - Drosselmeyer - $94,500

Third place finisher in Louisiana Derby likely to run in Coolmore Lexington

The money drama will continue over the next two weeks but three horses and their connections can rest easy.

Santa Anita Derby photo courtesy of Eclipse Sportswire