There's no doubt about it: Dialed In was the clear favorite for the 2011 Kentucky Derby, leading the field with 4/1 odds.
While the colt didn't rise to the occasion, it's not all bad news for acclaimed horse trainer Nick Zito: After winning both the Holy Bull Stakes and the Florida Derby, Dialed In is eligible for a $5.5 million bonus if he wins the 136th Preakness Stakes on Saturday, May 21.
Zito would be in line to make a cool $500,000 from any such winnings, per the guidelines detailed in the 2011 Preakness 5.5 Bonus Program Official Rules. The owner of Dialed In would be paid the remaining $5 million bonus.
This huge amount of money is the main reason as to why Dialed In will be running in the Preakness on Saturday. After a lackluster performance at Churchill Downs, most horses would be relegated to training and try their luck at the third leg of the Triple Crown, the Belmont Stakes, which will be held on June 11.
Another bonus, the 2011 Expressbet .55 Consolation Bonus Program, is also up for grabs: Shackleford, Comma to the Top, and To Honor and Serve are all eligible to win a $555,000 bonus if they take home first place in the Preakness. Per the rules, any horse that finished in first, second or third in the Florida Derby or Santa Anita Derby is eligible for the $555,000 bonus.
Keep this information in mind when you make your wagers on the 2011 Preakness Stakes. There's a lot riding on this one, literally.