Eye on outside: Whether the decision to take an outside position in the starting gate will be a good one will be decided Saturday in the Preakness Stakes. After trainer Bob Baffert took post No. 8 for War Emblem, the trainers of horses with early speed to match opted to go outside him.

Bobby Frankel, who trains morning-line favorite Medaglia d’Oro, said he was happy that post No. 5 was left for him when it came his turn to pick.

“Maybe they made the right decision, but I watch races from Pimlico, and you have to save ground,” he said.

Early betting: A total of $335,087 was wagered in the win pool of the Preakness through 6:30 p.m. Friday. Though he’s the 5-2 morning-line favorite, Medaglia d’Oro has dropped behind Kentucky Derby winner War Emblem. Medaglia d’Oro is 7-2, and War Emblem is favored at 5-2 in the early betting.

Two horses have shifted dramatically. Booklet has dropped to 5-1 from 10-1 on the morning line. Proud Citizen, 6-1 morning line, is 11-1 in the early betting.

Briefly: There are two guaranteed pools for Pick 4 wagering on the card. The first pool has a $200,000 guaranteed pool and covers races 4 through 7. The second pool is a $500,000 guarantee and covers races 9 through 12. The weather was shaping up as gloomy in Baltimore. Rain showers were starting to move into the area Friday evening. Track crews rolled and sealed the racing surface. Forecasts called for rain this morning with the possibility of clearing by the afternoon.