The Friday before Preakness Day at Pimlico Race Course is highlighted by the historic $500,000 Pimlico Special (G1). The race was made famous by the match race between Seabiscuit and War Admiral, and annually features some of the best older horses competing over the Preakness distance of 1 3/16 miles. In this year's edition, a compact field of just five went to post before a crowd of 24,429. Funny Cide scratched out of the race, instead entering in Saturday's William Donald Schaefer Handicap. Ben Ali Stakes winner Wanderin Boy was sent off as the 4-5 favorite, with Gulfstream Park Handicap winner Harlington the 2-1 second choice.
Jockey Javier Castellano took the favorite to the front right away and set a slow pace of 24.07, 47.48, 1:10.88, and 1:35.35, while 7-1 shot Invasor stalked him out three wide just a length off. Wanderin Boy drew away to a 3-length advantage with a furlong to go, but he began to tire as Invasor was just hitting his best stride. Invasor drew even with Wanderin Boy with a 1/16 of a mile to go, and shook him off late to prevail by 1 1/4 length in a time of 1:54.40 over the fast main track. It was a long 3 3/4 length back to 5-1 shot West Virginia in third, while Harlington finished fourth.
Also check out the results for the Black-Eyes Susan Stakes and the three other stakes on the undercard.
Pgm Horse Jockey Win Place Show
4 Invasor Dominguez 15.40 4.60 3.20
3 Wanderin Boy Castellano 2.60 2.10
6 West Virginia Arroyo 3.20
Winning Time: 1:54.40
$2 Exacta 4-3 40.20
$2 Trifecta 4-3-2 126.60
$1 Superfecta 4-3-2-6 75.40
Trainer Kiaran McLaughlin leads Invasor into the winner's circle after the Pimlico Special. McLaughlin said, "He did surprise me a bit. We liked him, but when you're up against these type horses, you don't know where you stand. So I'm pleasantly surprised. When he ducked to the inside, that's when he started running. I thought we were going to be a good second there for a minute, but he just kept running on."
Invasor with his flowers and winner's blanket. Winning jockey Ramon Dominguez said, "I was pretty impressed not only because he won the race, but the way he did it. To come off the bridle and to be able to regroup and win the race shows signs of a lot of ability and quality."
Pimlico CEO Joe DeFrancis (left) presents the Pimlico Special trophy to jockey Ramon Dominguez and trainer Kiaran McLaughlin.
Second place finisher and beaten favorite Wandering Boy in the post parade. His trainer Nick Zito said, "This is a very tough beat. This is one of the toughest losses I've ever lost as a trainer. He didn't do anything wrong. The jock rode him perfect, he just got beat. He beat the other horses. He beat Todd's (two). It looks like you're going to win the race, and then (you lose). You always worry about (the Shadwell Stable's) horses. They've got some of the best horses in the world."
Third place finisher West Virginia in the post parade. His trainer Todd Pletcher said, "We got into a good spot (with West Virginia) with a good trip. When we made our move at the eighth-pole, we got cut off. There was just no pace."
Manhattan Handicap (G1) and Just a Game Stakes (G1) Results - On the Belmont undercard, Gio Ponti won over Marsh Side and Better Talk Now in the Manhattan Handicap, while Diamondrella beat favorite Forever Together in the Just a Game Stakes. Get the results, chart, and photos here.
Acorn Stakes (G1), True North Handicap (G2), and Woody Stephens Stakes (G2) Results - Also on the Belmont undercard, Gabby's Golden Gal upset favorite Justwhistledixie in the Acorn, top choice Fabulous Strike beat defending champ Benny the Bull in the True North Handicap, and Munnings won by 5 1/4 lengths in the Woody Stephens Stakes. Get the results, chart, and photos here.
Brooklyn Handicap (G2) and Hill Prince Stakes - Eldaafer got up by a nose to win the Brooklyn Handicap over pacesetter Nite Light in the slop, with favorite Rising Moon third. In the Hill Prince Stakes, which was taken off the turf, Despite the Odds drew away to win by 7 1/2 lengths. Get the results, chart, and photos here.
2009 Belmont Stakes Entries - A field of 10 was entered with Kentucky Derby winner and Preakness runner-up Mine That Bird the 2-1 morning line favorite from post 7. Get the entries, post positions, odds, and free past performances here.
Belmont Stakes Friday Workouts - Photos of 5 of the Belmont Stakes horses on the sloppy track in the rain Friday morning, including Mine That Bird. Get the details and photos here.
Belmont Contenders Weekend Workouts - Five of the likely entrants for next weekend's Belmont Stakes had timed works at Belmont Park on May 30-31, including Charitable Man and Dunkirk. Get the details and photos here.
Rachel Alexandra wins the Preakness - She led most of the way and was ahead by 4 at the top of the stretch, then held off Mine That Bird by a length. Musket Man was another 1/2 length back in third. Get the results, chart, and photos here.
Preakness undercard stakes results - There were 7 other stakes on the card, most of them grade 2 or 3, including the Dixie Stakes (G2) won by Parading.
