Jeff Haney on how Barbaro is making Triple Crown futures bettors nervous

Gamblers who bet there would be no Triple Crown winner this year must be feeling intimidated by Barbaro, who bolted to the head of the 3-year-old class with an impressive Kentucky Derby victory.
Before the Derby, bettors who wagered against any horse winning the Triple Crown had to risk about $10 for each $1 they were trying to win in Las Vegas race and sports books.
That kind of bet - risking a lot to win a little on a proposition that seems close to a sure thing - is called a "bridge jumper" in gambling slang, probably because making it is like taking a plunge.
Current odds on props involving Barbaro and the Triple Crown heading into Saturday's Preakness Stakes indicate this year's bridge jumpers might go splat.
Barbaro is listed as a heavy favorite of minus-160 (risk $1.60 to win $1) at Wynn Las Vegas to win the Preakness, having been bet up from an opening line of minus-110. Gamblers can also bet against Barbaro, getting a price of plus-140 on the rest of the field, which is expected to include nine starters.
Also at Wynn, Barbaro is listed at plus-170 to win the Triple Crown. Before the Kentucky Derby, gamblers could get about 7-1 on their money that any horse would win the Triple Crown.
It's minus-200 that Barbaro will not become the first thoroughbred since Affirmed in 1978 to win the Preakness and Belmont along with the Kentucky Derby.
A comparison to the opening line posted after the Derby indicates bettors believe in Barbaro. The "No," Barbaro will not win the Triple Crown, opened at minus-320, with the "Yes" side at plus-260.
Other Las Vegas books have similar odds on Barbaro to win the Triple Crown. At the Las Vegas Hilton, it's minus-220 he won't and plus-190 he will. Caesars Palace and related properties have it minus-250/plus-200, and at the Palms it's minus-230/plus-205.
Source: www.lasvegassun.com