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Big Brown demolishes opposition in Preakness Stakes!
[watch Preakness Stakes 2008 video here]
Before a crowd of more than 112,000 fans, Big Brown captured the Preakness Stakes on Saturday at Pimlico race track when he charged to the lead turning for home and then easily cruised down the stretch. With his Preakness Stakes victory, Big Brown is still on track to win thoroughbred racing's first Triple Crown in 30 years.
Big Brown delivered another smashing triumph in the Preakness Stakes by winning by 5¼ lengths. His win in the Kentucky Derby two weeks ago was marked by a similar dominance.
Macho Again came in second while Icabad Crane was third. The remaining order of finish was: Racecar Rhapsody, Stevil, Kentucky Bear, Hey Byrn, Giant Moon, Tres Borrachos, Yankee Bravo, Gayego, and Riley Tucker. Behindatthebar was scratched on May 16.
The Belmont Stakes will be held on June 7. Affirmed was the last Triple Crown winner when he won that race along with the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes to give racing its 11 th Triple Crown winner. And that was way back in 1978.
Big Brown was tucked inside an undistinguished pack the first time by the winning post after breaking from the six-hole in the classic as Hey Byrn, Gayego, and Riley Tucker were out on the lead.
He was still fourth the first time past the grandstand, behind pacesetter Gayego. He moved up to third on the first turn, where he stayed all the way down the backstretch. The early fractions were :23.57 and :46.81.
On the backstretch, jockey Kent Desormeaux was able to get Big Brown off the rail and to a clear spot just off the leaders. Traveling clear and wide around the final bend after six furlongs in 1:10.48, Big Brown easily caught up to the leaders.
Macho Again, who broke from the rail, came up from eighth position down the backstretch and ran with a torrid speed. He performed the widest move of all around the bend.
As they straightened away in the lane, Big Brown decisively unleashed a tremendous turn of foot and put several lengths between him and his rivals in a mere 100 yards. After the devastating display of acceleration, Desormeaux eased up on the colt before they hit the sixteenth pole as he peeked behind for competition and won "under wraps."
Desormeaux didn't even need the whip in the stretch.
At least twice, Desormeaux ducked his head under his right arm to check on the fading competition. There was no need. Big Brown was in total control.
"I looked between my legs, under my arms, they were eight back," he said. "I just stopped riding, reeled him in and just made sure he didn't pull up. He just kept kicking his legs up and striding for the wire."
He added: "What a lovely ride I had."
The historic victory makes him one of four unbeaten horses to win both the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes, joining Majestic Prince (1969), Seattle Slew (1977), and Smarty Jones (2004). Only Seattle Slew was able to land the Triple Crown.
Big Brown went off the 1-5 favorite and returned $2.40 to win as the lowest-priced winner since Spectacular Bid paid $2.10 in 1979. The final time for the 1 3/16 miles was 1:54.80.
Dutrow got his hands on the silver Woodlawn Vase at Pimlico race track, where his late father Richard Sr. was a leading trainer in the 1970s and his brother Anthony saddled horses Saturday.
"When asked about the run for the Triple Crown in three weeks, Dutrow said, "It doesn't look like he got down on his belly today. I know we have horse left. I'm going to be under the impression that he's going to be tough to beat in the Belmont ."
The festive mood at Pimlico race track after the race was in sharp contrast to the scene at Churchill Downs two weeks ago. Eight Belles, the filly who took on 19 colts and finished second, broke both front ankles while galloping out and had to be euthanized on the track, the first time that has happened in the Kentucky Derby. |
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[watch Preakness Stakes 2008 video here]
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