BALTIMORE, May 14 (UPI) -- Kentucky Derby winner Big Brown was made an overwhelming 1-2 favorite Wednesday for Saturday's running of the Preakness Stakes.
Big Brown, which pulled away in the stretch for a decisive win in the Kentucky early this month, will face 12 challengers in the 133rd running of the second leg of the Triple Crown.
Hoping to become the first horse to claim the Triple Crown in 30 years, Big Brown will break from the No. 7 post position with Kent Desormeaux aboard. Big Brown is unbeaten in four career starts and has won those races by a total of almost 34 lengths.
Gayego, which captured the Arkansas Derby, will be the only other Kentucky Derby entrant to take on Big Brown at the Preakness. Gayego finished 17th in the 20-horse field in Louisville.
Hey Byrn will be the only starter with a win at the Preakness distance of 1 3/16 miles, having finished first in the Holy Bull Stakes in his most recent start. Hey Byrn received 20-1 odds in the morning line.
