The running of the urinals at the 2010 Preakness doesn’t look as fun as in past years. I mean when full cans of beer aren’t flying at your head how much enjoyment can one really get out of it.

I remember when the third weekend in May used to be a fun trip with my friends to Pimlico (one of my favorite weekends of the year). Now it’s just another Saturday that I hit OTB.

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So after two years of picking loser after loser at the Kentucky Derby I decided to hang up my prognosticating practice on Sports Crackle Pop. And what do you know as this year my magic touch came back as I hit both the exacta and trifecta.

I just wanted to say thank you to Super Saver, Icebox, and Paddy O’Prado. If only Icebox would have taken the outside from the beginning he most likely would have blown by Calvin Borel for the win.

Trainer of Musket Man, Derek Ryan feeds his Kentucky Derby entrant a Guinness beer every morning.

“The first-time Derby trainer has a good explanation why he does it, “…mellows him out I hope. Nah, it gives him a good appetite. They say a Guinness a day is good for you. So far it’s worked.

Ryan has a horse that has been stellar in races; he’s won five out of his six starts, Best temperament of any horse I’ve ever had. Nothing bothers him. He goes with the flow.

Being undefeated at Derby’s (with wins at Illinois and Tampa) and at great odds of 20-1, he most likely will be sitting in some exotic plays for King Ing. One thing to worry about is the horse getting boxed in at the 2 hole.

DeGags will have his Derby preview tomorrow. And if I focus and do some more research I might have one out as well.

Leave it to the Brits to let a horse grow a mustache. According to the Telegraph, the “10-year-old Shire-cross, is said to flee if he thinks he is in danger of getting even a trim. The horse also refuses to let staff at the stables in Bitton, Gloucestershire, into his stall there for fear that they will remove his whiskers.”

I don’t think we’ll be seeing any horses with mustaches at the Derby this weekend, but if there was one, I’d definitely put my money on him.

Joe Talamo, the jockey of the current Derby favorite (I Want Revenge) is shooting daily updates on Twitter. Follow Joe here.

Will this 19 year-old Californian will be the first jockey to send a twitter update during a triple crown race? I’m taking bets — and the odds are at 10-1. Make our your checks out to “cash” please.

When “Debbie Gibson” forwarded me the story about the Maryland Jockey Club banning outside alcohol from the Preakness Infield I felt a piece of me die. It was like learning that there is no Santa Claus or Easter Bunny.

I myself have enjoyed the last couple of years at Pimlico (sans last year for a previous commitment) and was really looking forward to this year. Hotel was booked, kiddie pool air pump locked, and 30 pack ready to go. Now Maryland Jockey Club President Tom Chukas has ruined my dream and if this poll is right, 91.5% of every other young American living in the greater Baltimore areas dream.

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Will Big Brown complete the trifecta or will an upstart horse ruin his day?

1. Big Brown – The winner of the first two legs of the Triple Crown. We all know how good he is, favorite to win.

2. Guadalcanal – Why is he even in this race? Must be nice to have connections. Hasn’t broke his maiden and is trying to run with Big Brown. Get out of here!

3. Macho Again – Changing jockeys, from Julien Leparoux to Garrett Gomez. He is probably the most sought after jockey when it comes to big races. Macho Again came in a strong second in the Preakness. He has been in the exacta in 6-of-9 career starts, with 2 of those 3 races run on a polytrack. Will the length be too much?

4. Denis of Cork – Finished third at the Kentucky Derby. He also gets a jockey change back to Robbie Albarado who was on him when he run his last race. Sired by Unbridled, a distance loving horse; so the breeding is there. If he doesn’t break last like in the Derby, has a great chance to hit the board.

5. Casino Drive – The Japanese horse is well bred, and ran well in the Peter Pan for the 9 furlongs. He is a half-brother to Belmont Stakes winners Jazil and Rags to Riches. Has had trouble this past week galloping around the Belmont dirt and the huge crowd will not make him comfortable. Might be too eager and run at Big Brown too fast. Wild card.

6. Da’Tara – Likely pacesetter for the race. Is a mutter, but the track should be nice and dry on Saturday

7. Tale of Ekati – Finished fourth in the Derby. Would like a slower pace, which I think he will get. Has a chance to hit the board

8. Anak Nakal – Too slow, for some reason doesn’t like to get out early and force the issue. Stays back and waits until the end to pass the tired horses. Finished 7^th an the Derby

9. Ready’s Echo – Is a deep closer. Pace might force him to the front too fast. There is a lot of fight in this horse and at the right price could be used in exotics.

10. Icabad Crane – 3^rd in the Preakness. Bred to run the 12 furlongs, but the pace might be too slow. If the pace is quicker than expected, he could hit the board.

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Big Brown might have won the second leg of the Triple Crown, but the real action was on the infield of Pimlico. From the porta-john racing, fights, and a report of a couple fornicating in front of a large crowd: the Preakness did not disappoint. Here are some of my favorites…

I think Pimlico security is dragging the wrong guy out!! (must click link)

More videos and pictures after the jump…

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Good thing I took King Ing’s predictions because that $200 was burning a hole in my wallet. I spent the afternoon watching Angels vs Dodgers interleage play, but took a 2 minute break to watch the Preakness. Here it is again, with Big Brown running in a league of his own:

The Preakness is my favorite live sporting event; not only because of the animalistic behavior of everyone in the infield, but because I like betting on every race without an inkling of race horse knowledge (except for the Triple Crown race of course). You can call it a degenerate activity, I call it FUN! So before I actually start my preview I would like to preface it by saying I have hit the trifecta three years running. Also by just writing that I just jinxed myself this year, so you can basically stop reading right now. This will basically work like my Kentucky Derby preview. I will preview all 13 entries and then paint the picture of how I envision the race to break down:

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