Preakness Stakes: The Real Jewel of the Triple Crown
It seems like just yesterday we were all a-buzz about Big Brown, who had the potential to be the first Triple Crown winner in 30 years. But his impressive performances in the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes did little to overshadow an incredibly poor and disappointing run in the Belmont. He became another in a long line of also-rans who conquered two but not all three of thoroughbred racing’s biggest events.
Unless a horse wins the first two races, the most hyped leg of the Triple Crown is the Kentucky Derby. It’s probably the most prestigious race to win in the world.
But the real jewel of the Triple Crown is the Preakness Stakes.
Every year there is a horse who wins the Kentucky Derby. Only that horse out of the entire field of 20 has a chance at moving on in the Triple Crown of thoroughbred racing.
In less than two minutes, the Preakness Stakes is what hopes and dreams are either made of or completely dashed.
Preakness Stakes Run Down
The second race of the Triple Crown, the Preakness is the shortest distance of the three races at 1 and 3/16 miles around the Pimlico Track in Baltimore, Maryland. The winner is draped with a blanket of Black-eyed Susans and takes a large chunk of the $1 million purse. The Preakness is always held the third Saturday in May, two weeks after the Kentucky Derby.
This year, it’s this Saturday, May 16. Horses will step on to the track for a post time of 6:15 pm EST. Television coverage starts at 5:00 pm on NBC.
2009 Preakness Stakes Horses
This year, only Mine that Bird is running in the Preakness for eternal glory. The rest of the 13 starters are competing for the purse. Which of the horses running are your Preakness picks? Here is the 13-horse field as it stands three days before the race, in order of post position.
- Mine That Bird
- Pioneerof the Nile (KY Derby runner-up)
- Big Drama (likes to go to the front)
- Papa Clem (ran 4th in the Derby)
- Rachel Alexandra (Kentucky Oaks winning filly)
- Musket Man (3rd in the Derby)
- General Quarters (10th in the Derby, run by owner, trainer, groom Thomas McCarthy)
- Fresian Fire (one of the favorites with a poor showing in the Derby, back from a minor hoof injury)
- Take the Points (training impressively right now)
- Flying Private (looking for redemption after running last in the Derby)
- Hull (unbeaten so far)
- Terrain (looking to come out of a mediocre season)
- Tone It Down (piloted by Kent Desormeaux)
Mine That Bird, the 50-1 Kentucky Derby long-shot purchased for just $9,500, would be the ultimate Cinderella story if he won the Preakness too. Unfortunately, one of his biggest assests was his jockey Calvin Borel, whose ride was critical in his Derby win. Borel had a tough choice to make for the Preakness: ride Derby winner Mine That Bird or Kentucky Oaks winning filly Rachel Alexandra, who he also piloted. He chose the filly, who with Borel on her back has an exceedingly good chance of upsetting the boys in the Preakness.
In just a few short days we’ll have our Preakness results, and either all eyes will turn to the Belmont Stakes or the world will go on and forget about horse racing until the next first Saturday in May. It will be interesting to see how bettors influence the Preakness odds over the next few days, and who is expected to win. I have a feeling they might just be favoring the filly this year.
Your Take On The 2009 Preakness
So, who do you think has the best shot at winning the Preakness? As much as we all love a good underdog story, and as fun as it would be for him to be the next Triple Crown winner, do you think Mine That Bird has a chance?
Last year, many knowledgable racing fans said they didn’t think we’d ever see another Triple Crown winner. We just don’t make them like we used to. Do you think that’s the case?
I am torn Jackie, between Mine That Bird and that simply AMAZING filly. I’ll be sure to be watching this Saturday for sure! (I might even be able to get it to come on in Johnny Reb’s hospital room. He LOVES to watch the Big Three!)
Great work here, as always!
For a couple of days more, Mine That Bird is the sleeper horse of the year.
But that a) Calvin passed up a shot at a Triple Crown to ride another horse and that b) the owner was nervous enough that he tried to squeeze Rachel Alexandra out of the race tells me that even the horse’s connections don’t seem to have much faith in him.
So now I hope he shows them wrong. The storyteller in me would like to see that.
Everyone focuses on Mine That Bird’s yearling price of $9500, and ignores the fact that after winning the Canadian juvenile title last year, he sold for $400,000 or so.
But he’s still a modest little gelding and it would be awesome to see him win the Crown, particularly since it would mean he did it with more than one jockey. You can’t NOT root for him!
Of course, I rooted for General Quarters in the Derby and I still have a soft spot for him. Few TBs at that level are trained by their owners, and McCarthy seems to have a genuine affection for the horse.
After watching the Oaks replay I said Rachel Alexandra is the best three-year-old right now, period, and I do still believe that. But the best horse does not always get the best trip, and that’s what makes the racing game.
Mostly I’m hoping all of them make it safely through the race and the summer and show up in my backyard for the Haskell in August. I can’t travel much so it’s always great when my favorites from the TC trail come to NJ — it’s the one big stakes race I actually get to see in person.
Since I don’t really follow racing, I don’t know much about any of the horses. What I do know is that anything can happen. I would like to see them all finish safely. I’m also wondering why the jockey didn’t take the chance to ride a triple crown winner. If I get the chance I’ll watch it, I’m interested to see how that filly does.
i actually feel sorry for the horses who are forced through this.
Hi Racing, I agree with you. I actually feel sorry for the horses that are forced through this torture.