War of Will, the colt who ran up behind Maximum Security, causing Maximum Security's disqualification in the Kentucky Derby, won the 144th running of the Preakness this afternoon at Pimlico Race Course. Trained by Mark Casse, and ridden (again) by Tyler Gaffalione, the colt broke from the one post, as he did in the Kentucky Derby. Unlike riding in the previous race, the jockey did not urge the horse to break extremely quickly, and the colt ran well without fighting the jockey as he did in the Derby.
There was a gaffe in the Preakness, as Bodexpress was behaving badly in the starting gate, and had jockey John Velaquez pinned against the outside wall. The jockey had removed his feet from the stirrups and the gates-man, inside the stall was holding Bodexpress' bridle when the starter opened the gates. Bodexpress tried to blast out of the gate, but was checked by the man's hand on his bridle. He reared, then bucked, sending John Velasquez flying through the air. The jockey was unhurt, but very disappointed. The colt ran the entire race, but moved away from the out-riders every time they attempted to catch and restrain him.
Due to Bodexpress' riderless romp, the Stewards at Pimlico immediately hit the "Inquiry" sign switch as the race ended. Seeing that Bodexpress had not interfered with any other horses and there were no fouls claimed, the sign was taken down shortly after the race.
War of Will ran the 1 and 3/16 mile in a time of 1:54.34, and finished 1 and 1/4 lengths ahead of Everfast, who was 1 1/4 lengths ahead of Owendale. Warrior's Charge was 2 1/2 lengths behind Owendale in fourth, Laughing Fox finished fifth, and the betting favorite at start time, Improbable, finished sixth. Finishing out the order of crossing the finish line (with their jockeys on board) were: 7th Win Win Win; 8th Bourbon War; 9th Signalman; 10th Anothertwistafate; 11th Alwaysmining; and 12th Market King. Bodexpress was listed as "DNF" since he crossed the line without carrying 126 pounds for the distance.
The pay-outs for $2 bets were: War of Will - win - $14,20; Everfast - place - $32.00; and Owendale - show - $6.00. The $2 multi-pick tickets paid: exacta - $947.00; trifecta - $9,389.60; and superfecta - $103,848.80.
We now wait three weeks for the running of the Belmont Stakes at Belmont Park in New York....
Showing posts with label Preakness results. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Preakness results. Show all posts
Saturday, May 18, 2019
Saturday, May 16, 2015
American Pharoah: A Triple Crown Champion?
American Pharoah won the Preakness in a possum-pounder, driving rain at Pimlico Racecourse, outside of Baltimore today. The gorgeous bay colt has me dreaming of a Triple Crown Champion.
Most of the trainers chose to saddle their horses under the grandstand today, with only two being saddled in view of the crowd. It had begun to rain, big, hard, fat drops. The inner rail soon looked like pea soup. None of the horses, except American Pharoah, had run over a track like that. The Pharoah seemed to like it, skipping ahead of his fellow contestants by 8 lengths in the Rebel Stakes, over a track listed a "muddy." Considering Firing Line's late charge in the Derby, and not knowing how any of the colts would bounce back after a two week rest, I chose Bodhisattva, Firing Line and Divining Rod.
At least I got Divining Rod correct. American Pharoah owned the race, and he pretty much set the pace. American Pharoah won the race, and a $2 winning bet paid $3.80; Tale of Verve placed second and paid $19 for a $2 show bet; and Divining Rod ran in third, paying $5.20 on a $2 show bet. The perfecta paid $124.40; the trifecta paid $985; and the superfecta paid back $3,813.80 for a correct $2 bet. The rest of the field finished in this order: Dortmund was fourth, Mr. Z was fifth, Danzig Moon sixth, Firing Line seventh, and Bodhisattva (my winning choice) finished last.
Now. The big question is, can American Pharoah win the Belmont Stakes in three weeks time? Will he be able to win covering that mile and a half distance? Will the Derby and the Preakness have taken too much out of him? He seems a good traveler - he isn't picky about "liking" a track. (Easy Goer could win big in New York state, but no where else...) Who will run against the colt in the Belmont? I'd guess that Firing Line is out, as well as Bodhisattva, Danzig Moon, and Mr. Z. What new colts will turn up to see if they can upset American Pharoah at this longest distance in the Triple Crown? Will he be able to win the whole enchilada? I hope so, but I'm not counting on it.
And, yes, I am a curmudgeon when it comes to the Triple Crown champions. It took me 30 years to admit that the great Secretariat was as good as he was. Why? Because Man O'War's winter pasturage was in Berlin, Maryland. Because my Mother got to see Man O'War and touch him, and sign his visitor's book. Because I was brought up on tales of "Big Red" - who was Man O'War, and not Secretariat. I still believe that if Man O'War had been entered in the Kentucky Derby, he would have won, but Mr Riddle didn't believe you should ask a three-year-old to run 1 and 1/4 miles on the first Saturday in May. So that will always be an unanswered question....
If American Pharoah can win the Belmont Stakes on June 6, I'll jump on his bandwagon immediately!
Most of the trainers chose to saddle their horses under the grandstand today, with only two being saddled in view of the crowd. It had begun to rain, big, hard, fat drops. The inner rail soon looked like pea soup. None of the horses, except American Pharoah, had run over a track like that. The Pharoah seemed to like it, skipping ahead of his fellow contestants by 8 lengths in the Rebel Stakes, over a track listed a "muddy." Considering Firing Line's late charge in the Derby, and not knowing how any of the colts would bounce back after a two week rest, I chose Bodhisattva, Firing Line and Divining Rod.
At least I got Divining Rod correct. American Pharoah owned the race, and he pretty much set the pace. American Pharoah won the race, and a $2 winning bet paid $3.80; Tale of Verve placed second and paid $19 for a $2 show bet; and Divining Rod ran in third, paying $5.20 on a $2 show bet. The perfecta paid $124.40; the trifecta paid $985; and the superfecta paid back $3,813.80 for a correct $2 bet. The rest of the field finished in this order: Dortmund was fourth, Mr. Z was fifth, Danzig Moon sixth, Firing Line seventh, and Bodhisattva (my winning choice) finished last.
Now. The big question is, can American Pharoah win the Belmont Stakes in three weeks time? Will he be able to win covering that mile and a half distance? Will the Derby and the Preakness have taken too much out of him? He seems a good traveler - he isn't picky about "liking" a track. (Easy Goer could win big in New York state, but no where else...) Who will run against the colt in the Belmont? I'd guess that Firing Line is out, as well as Bodhisattva, Danzig Moon, and Mr. Z. What new colts will turn up to see if they can upset American Pharoah at this longest distance in the Triple Crown? Will he be able to win the whole enchilada? I hope so, but I'm not counting on it.
And, yes, I am a curmudgeon when it comes to the Triple Crown champions. It took me 30 years to admit that the great Secretariat was as good as he was. Why? Because Man O'War's winter pasturage was in Berlin, Maryland. Because my Mother got to see Man O'War and touch him, and sign his visitor's book. Because I was brought up on tales of "Big Red" - who was Man O'War, and not Secretariat. I still believe that if Man O'War had been entered in the Kentucky Derby, he would have won, but Mr Riddle didn't believe you should ask a three-year-old to run 1 and 1/4 miles on the first Saturday in May. So that will always be an unanswered question....
If American Pharoah can win the Belmont Stakes on June 6, I'll jump on his bandwagon immediately!
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