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Del Mar Debutante Pacific Classic Day Pat O'Brien Stakes King's Plate results Del Mar Oaks |
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 Jaime Torres celebrates aboard Seize the Grey after winning the 2024 Preakness | |
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The $2 million Preakness Stakes (G1) is the second jewel in the Triple Crown. After morning line favorite Muth scratched on Wednesday, a field of 8 three-year-olds contested the 149th renewal of this 1 3/16 mile classic around two turns at historic Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore. Conditions were typical for mid May, with dark cloudy skies, intermittent showers and a race time temperature of 67 degrees, after heavy rains in the morning downgraded the track to muddy.
As expected Southwest Stakes (G3) and Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Mystik Dan was sent off as the lukewarm 9-4 favorite. In to challenge him included 7-2 second choice Catching Freedom, winner of the Louisiana Derby (G2) before finishing fourth in the Kentucky Derby, and 4-1 third choice Imagination, winner of the San Felipe (G2) before finishing a close second in the Santa Anita Derby (G1).
 Seize the Grey leads down in the stretch. |
Pgm Horse Jockey Win Place Show 6 Seize the Grey Torres 21.60 8.40 4.40 5 Mystik Dan Hernandez 4.20 2.80 3 Catching Freedom Prat 3.20 Winning Time: 1:56.82 $1 Exacta 6-5 59.70 $1 Trifecta 6-5-3 183.70 $1 Superfecta 6-5-3-8 749.00 $1 Super High Five 6-5-3-8-7 2,986.80 $2 BES-Preakness Double 5-6 114.40 |
Left: Seize the Grey heads to the winner's circle with his flower blanket. Winning trainer D. Wayne Lukas, celebrating his seventh Preakness win said, "People ask that all the time, and the last one is always the sweetest. The last girl you dance with is the one you take home.The thing about it is every time we've been lucky to win one of these that it's been with a different client, and so that is what makes it special. That's what makes this one special. 2,000 people plus. The one before that was a different client. That's what I get paid for, to let them live the dream."
Right: The trophy celebration.
Jockey Jaime Torres, Michael Behrens of winning ownership group MyRacehorse, and trainer D. Wayne Lukas celebrate with the trophy. Behrens said, "This means everything for our business. What we tried to do four years ago is to allow anybody the biggest thrill of winning the biggest races, and just we had 2,570 people experience one of the greatest thrills in racing. You saw the energy out there. There was so much excitement, there were tears. My voice is almost gone. I think half the 2,500 peoples' voice is gone."
Right: Jaime Torres celebrates aboard Seize the Grey before heading to the winner's circle.
Seize the Grey heads back to the barn. Winning jockey Jaime Torres said, "I was going to do whatever Imagination was going to do. I knew he was going to go to the lead. I think we looked at each other, and he said, well, you go, and I went. So I took the lead. I mean, he's such an amazing horse. He just relaxed for me, and he felt the other horses coming close and he was just looking at them. As soon as I asked, I had a lot of horse. That was like from the 1/4 to the wire, he gave me everything."
Right: Seize the Grey heads for the infield saddling area. Behrens added, "I don't know how many showed up, but we had 512 people enter to win the owner's privileges. The way the MyRacehorse system works is that whatever we get by the track, and was unbelievably generous in hooking us up with some great perks. We lotteried them off on the app for a lucky owner, and we had 512 people that entered that plus their guests, so could've been anywhere from 500 and 1,000 people that were out here today."
Left: Seize the Grey walks over before the race. Lukas added, "It's also special that I was able to tap into this young man here. He's responded absolutely beautiful. He rode a few horses for me at Churchill and rode a few just general horses, nothing real special. I thought he had a lot of talent and I loved working with him, but I really feel good about taking him to this level."
Right: Seize the Grey in the post parade. Torres added, "Very excited and very thankful to all the people that have been beside me, helping me. My family, I thank them. A lot of people, a lot of jockeys, we came from the bottom and to afford flights and things like that is hard, but they still do it because they love me,and I appreciate that a lot. My family surprised me here today. I have no words. It's amazing."
Left: Seize the Grey leads over Imagination first time by. Torres added, "Can you guys imagine when you are watching a movie and you have this horse, like it's the main character in the movie and you see the last race and he wins and you feel that emotion, but just think like it's real. I cannot explain it. This horse means a lot for me. Thank you guys for giving me the opportunity. It means a lot."
Right: Seize the Grey and Mystik Dan in the infield saddling area. Lukas added, "You're only as good as your clientele. If the clientele will back you, give you a chance to get in that yearling market, and that's where we've always built our stable in the yearling market, and give us a chance to purchase the horses we like, there's no reason why we shouldn't be here."
Left: Second place finisher and beaten favorite Mystik Dan returns after the race. Trainer Ken McPeek said, "My colt's a fantastic colt and [I'm] proud of him. It just wasn't his day, but he'll live to race again. I think Brian made the right move. Obviously, speed held. That's why they call it horse racing, right?" Jockey Brian Hernandez Jr. added, "Unfortunately, we were second best today. You have to congratulate the winner, because he did it all on their own terms. My horse ran well, they both ran two weeks ago, to win the Derby like he did and then come back today and run a respectable second, you have to be proud of him. We kind of expected Seize the Grey to show some speed coming out of there. I didn't think he'd be that quick, but he set his own fractions, and he went some legitimate fractions, and he was able to kick away as well."
Right: Third place finisher and beaten favorite Catching Freedom walks over before the race. Trainer Brad Cox said, "I liked the trip we were getting. I thought we had a big chance turning for home. I thought he ran well. He leveled off a little bit late but overall good effort. He ran really well and beaten a nose by the Derby winner. The winner kind of controlled the race, went quick enough but really didn't have any pace pressure. I think he cleared off by a length and a half up the backside. Obviously, that got him home. He was able to get there."
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