The 107,398 fans in attendance at Pimlico for the Preakness Stakes (G1) were treated to a marathon 13-race card with the first race off at 10:45am. Mostly sunny skies were the order of the day with temperatures in the lower 80's and a light breeze, making for ideal racing conditions over the fast track and good turf, after several days of wet weather.
A field of 7 older horses went 1 1/8 miles on the turf in the $200,000 Jagermeister Dixie Stakes (G2). Paddy O'Prado, unraced since finishing 5th in the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) was sent off as the 3-5 favorite over 9-2 Slew's Answer, winner of the Turf Classic at Tampa Bay last out, and 6-1 Baryshnikov, winner of the Tejano Run at Turfway followed by an allowance at Keeneland.
Jockey Julien Leparoux sent Baryshnikov to the lead and he set early fractions of 24.76, 49.07, and 1:14.21 over the good course while being stalked by 10-1 Pocket Patch. Baryshnikov opened up a 3 length lead in mid-stretch through 1 mile in 1:40.06, but Paddy O'Prado, 6th early, closed fast to pass the pacesetter at the 1/16 pole to win going away by 1 1/2 lengths in 1:53.56. It was another 2 lengths back to 11-1 Bim Bam third.
Full results chart from DRF
Paddy O'Prado in the winner's circle. His trainer Dale Romans said, "I wasn't comfortable until they hit the wire. He's amazing. It makes no difference – Grade 1 race on Poly, the Classic on dirt, multiple-stakes wins on turf – he's just a phenomenal horse. This is the start of a great year, I hope. The turf condition did concern me a bit. We just wanted him to run his race, relax early and follow Kent's commands and that's what he did." Jockey Kent Desormeaux added, "He started to reach up and find his class from the 3/16ths-pole to the 1/8-pole. Once he gutted that out and got near the horse in front, I found him to be a lot more of a racehorse. He got me home from there. He had to have put on 250 pounds and grown a hand in both directions. He's gotten to be a big boy."
The first stakes race on Preakness day was the $100,000 Allaire DuPont Distaff Stakes (G3) for older fillies and mares going 1 1/16 miles on the main track. 29-1 longest shot Lily Quatorze battled for the lead with 5-1 Decelerator through fractions of 23.19 and 46.09. Lily Quatorze tired on the far turn allowing Decelerator to lead through 3/4 in 1:10.64. 5-2 second choice Payton d'Oro, 4th early came through to take a short lead in mid-stretch through 1 mile in 1:36.29, but 11-1 Super Espresso, 5th early, came out 4 wide for the drive and rallied late to win by 3/4 length in 1:42.85. It was a long 8 1/2 lengths back to even-money favorite Life at Ten third.
Full results chart from DRF
Super Espresso in the winner's circle. Her trainer Todd Pletcher said, "I was very, very pleased and a little disappointed the way (Life at Ten) ran. If you take out her last race on turf, she's been a steadily improving filly. She trained well leading up to this, so we're not shocked that she ran well." Jockey Ramon Dominguez added, "She's got a beautiful long stride on her and I just kept her together. They went quick enough early on where it was helpful, but she just continued coming. I don't feel like they were really collapsing in front of her. She was closing."
The $100,000 William Donald Schaefer Memorial Stakes (G3) features older horses going 1 1/16 miles on the main track. 2-1 second choice Colizeo led the early going through fraction of 24.38, 48.83, and 1:13.19 over the fast track while being stalked by 6-5 favorite Apart the whole way. In the stretch, Apart gained on the pacesetter and after a short duel, outfinished him by a neck late to win in 1:43.70. It was another 1 1/2 lengths back to late-running 7-2 third choice Icabad Crane third.
Full results chart from DRF
Apart in the winner's circle. His trainer Al Stall Jr. said, "I told Garrett, he's been on the money lately so ride him with confidence. He's sound. I think he'll be a better horse by the end of the year and the farther he goes. This is a good spot. I like where the race sits on the calendar, besides the fun we have in Baltimore." Jockey Garrett Gomez added, "I wanted to sit back a little and just make one run with him. When the pace slowed down a little to my liking, I was able to edge up a little closer to (Colizeo). I always felt I had him within range. When we turned for home, I felt pretty good. I just had to reach down and give him a little love tap to make sure he didn't fall asleep."
A field of 8 older fillies and mares contested the $100,000 Omnilife Gallorette Handicap (G3) over 1 1/16 miles on the turf. 59-1 longest shot My Sweet Nenana was allowed an uncontested lead of as many as 3 lengths through slow fractions of 24.36, 49.36, and 1:15.01. At the 3/16 pole, 7-2 No Explaining came out 3 wide for the drive to take over the lead, and easily held off late-running 3-1 Desert Sage and 5-1 Dyna Waltz to win by 4 1/2 lengths in 1:40.21. Desert Sage and Dyna Waltz dead-heated for 2nd place, while 3-2 favorite Shared Account was 4th.
Full results chart from DRF
No Explaining in the winner's circle. Her jockey John Velazquez said, "It was a perfect trip. There were a couple of speedy horses in there and I had to bide my time thinking that the good horses are coming from behind anyway. At the quarter pole, I put her in the clear and she put in a good fight. She was much better today than when I rode her last year definitely. She was more professional, more willing to do it and handled the track much better."
The $100,000 AMResorts Maryland Sprint Handicap (G3) featured a field of 9 older horses sprinting 6 furlongs on the main track. 14-1 Delong Road was quickest away and got the opening quarter in 22.84, but was soon headed by 8-5 favorite Ventana who got the half in 45.75 and 5/8 in 57.52. 20-1 Immortal Eyes, who sat 3rd early, put in a bid late but Ventana outfinished him to win by a neck in 1:09.88. It was a long 5 1/4 lengths back to 9-2 China third.
Full results chart from DRF
Left: Ventana in the winner's circle. His trainer Bob Baffert said, "California sprinters are pretty tough. I've got to move them around. I thought it would be a good fit for him to come here. He's been working well and there really was nothing in California. I'm trying to spread these horses out. We thought it was a good spot for him and it was. And he ran fast." Jockey Martin Garcia added, "I think the other horse and I were pretty close, but I corrected it right away. It looked like I had contact, but I really didn't. It's been a while since I won on him, so it felt good."
Right: Third place finisher China
The $100,000 Chick Lang Stakes featured a field of 8 three-year-olds sprinting 6 furlongs on the main track. 9-1 Chipshot battled for the lead with 2-1 favorite Vengeful Wildcat through fractions of 23.44 and 46.26. Entering the stretch, the pair continued to battle but after a prolonged stretch duel Vengeful Wildcat dug in to win by a neck in 1:10.54. It was another 2 lengths back to 4-1 Road Ready third.
Full results chart from DRF
Vengeful Wildcat in the winner's circle. His trainer Ben Perkins Jr. said, "He's a pretty honest little sucker. Carlos fits him well. He knows the horse completely. He broke well and ran well. He's a very tractable horse. It looks like he likes the outside." Jockey Carlos Marquez Jr. added, "This is a horse you can put pretty much anywhere. You can close, but the speed just isn't holding and the inside isn't the best spot. So I tried to put him on the best part of the racetrack. Turning for home, he switched leads. When he put his head in front, I knew it was ours. Each time he gets better and better."
A field of 9 three-year-olds went 1 mile on the turf in the $100,000 James W. Murphy Stakes. 7-5 favorite Joes Blazing Aaron led for the first 3/4 mile through easy fractions of 24.89, 49.79, and 1:14.19 while as many as 1 1/2 lengths in front of 9-2 Humble and Hungry stalking him in second. Humble and Hungry gained a short lead at the 1/8 pole passing the tiring pacesetter, but 9-1 Chinglish, 4th early, came through between horses to win by 2 3/4 length in 1:40.05. It was another 1 3/4 lengths back to 9-2 Master Dunker third.
Full results chart from DRF
Chinglish in the winner's circle. His trainer Mark Hennig said, "I was concerned about how he'd handle the turf. He seemed to get over it well. I was pretty confident when I saw him going around the first turn, because he was a lot closer than he's been in some races. He'd been a bit of a clown in his early races, but the blinkers helped with that." Jockey John Velazquez added, "He broke good and got good position. He handled it pretty well. When I asked him to go, he responded. It was perfect. I got him in the clear and he clicked in pretty good."
Triple Crown quick links:
2013 Preakness Entries - Can Orb do it again in Maryland? Check out the top contenders with profiles, photos, and info for each horse.
Fiftyshadesofhay wins the Black-Eyed Susan - Fiftyshadesofhay just got up to win the Black-Eyed Susan Stakes (G2) on Friday at Pimlico by a neck over Marathon Lady with favorite Emollient 6th. On the undercard, Last Gunfighter won the Pimlico Special (G3). Get the results, charts, and photos here.
Analyzing the Preakness Stakes Contenders for 2013 - My annual analysis using popular angles and statistical trends to see who best matches the profile of a Preakness winner. The big surprise is that Kentucky Derby winner Orb is not in the top group!
Orb wins the Kentucky Derby - Orb was far back early but took the lead in the stretch and drew off to win the Kentucky Derby (G1) by 2 1/2 lengths over longshot Golden Soul and Revolutionary. Get the results, charts, and photos here.
More Kentucky Derby Photos - More photos from the day including more of Orb, the trophy, the roses, Martina McBride, and lots of mud.
Kentucky Derby undercard stakes results - There were 5 other stakes on Derby day including the Woodford Reserve Turf Classic (G1) won by 2012 Horse of the Year Wise Dan and the Humana Distaff Stakes (G1) won by Aubby K. Get the results, charts, and photos for all 5 races here.
Princess of Sylmar upsets in the Kentucky Oaks - She rallied from far back to win the Kentucky Oaks by a half length over Beholder and Unlimited Budget, while favorite Dreaming of Julia was fourth. Get the results, chart, and photos here.
Kentucky Oaks undercard stakes results - There were 5 other stakes on Oaks day including the La Troienne Stakes (G2) won by Authenticity and the Alysheba Stakes (G3) won by Take Charge Indy. Get the results, charts, and photos for all 5 races here.
Wednesday Kentucky Derby Workout Photos - Photos and comments for 18 Derby horses, everyone on the grounds except the one in quarantine, and 6 Oaks fillies from this morning on the track.
Kentucky Oaks Entries - A field of 11 fillies will go, with Gulfstream Oaks winner Dreaming of Julia favorite at 3-1 from post 8. Get the post positions, odds, and free past performances here.
Top Kentucky Derby Contenders - my list of the top horses headed to the Derby with profiles for each with photos, stats, and link to more info like past performances and pedigree.
Analyzing the top 2013 Kentucky Derby contenders - My annual analysis of the top contenders to try and select a winner by matching each to the profile of a Kentucky Derby winner using many of the more popular angles and statistical trends. This year there were is a 3-way tie for the top spot: Goldencents, Normandy Invasion, and Overanalyze.
2013 Kentucky Derby And Oaks Security - New enhanced stricter rules will be enforced this year. Be sure to read the rules as many have changed and more things are banned. There will still be magnetic wand searches of all patrons and many things are no longer allowed. Check here to make sure you don't bring anything they will confiscate.
Review: Triple Crown Handicapper 2013 - by Jim Mazur. Includes lots of stats for all 3 races and explains how to use a system of statistically derived negative angles to eliminate the "bad" picks.
Review: Kentucky Derby Greatest Moments - Commemorative DVD from Churchill Downs with video from 27 different runnings along with interviews, photos, and historical info. Definitely recommended for any racing fan!
Review: Churchill Downs - America's Most Historic Racetrack by Kimberly Gatto. An entertaining and informative account of the history of the track and it's most famous race, the Kentucky Derby, with lots of photos. Definitely recommended.
A field of 7 older horses went 1 1/8 miles on the turf in the $200,000 Jagermeister Dixie Stakes (G2). Paddy O'Prado, unraced since finishing 5th in the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) was sent off as the 3-5 favorite over 9-2 Slew's Answer, winner of the Turf Classic at Tampa Bay last out, and 6-1 Baryshnikov, winner of the Tejano Run at Turfway followed by an allowance at Keeneland.
Left: Ventana in the winner's circle. His trainer Bob Baffert said, "California sprinters are pretty tough. I've got to move them around. I thought it would be a good fit for him to come here. He's been working well and there really was nothing in California. I'm trying to spread these horses out. We thought it was a good spot for him and it was. And he ran fast." Jockey Martin Garcia added, "I think the other horse and I were pretty close, but I corrected it right away. It looked like I had contact, but I really didn't. It's been a while since I won on him, so it felt good."
