The
139th Preakness
Stakes, the second leg of the Triple Crown was won convincingly by the
flashy Kentucky Derby winner California Chrome.
After
a sharp break, jockey Victor Espinoza quickly got the brilliant colt into the
perfect position, just to the outside of the pace set by Pablo Del Monte
and surprisingly, the filly Ria Antonia. California Chrome sat comfortably in third
on the outside while Social Inclusion was fourth in the early going. Pablo Del Monte and Ria Antonia
threw down swift fractions of 23:56, 45.85 and 1:11.00.
Around the far turn, the two pace setters backed out of
it. At the ¾ pole, Social Inclusion made his move and California Chrome went
right with him. It appeared that the two would hook up for a fight to the wire, but the huge
Chestnut surged away in his typical fashion and opened up lengths on the field. Ride On Curlin
came with a furious rush, cutting into California Chrome’s lead with every
stride, but had to settle for second by a 1 1/2 lengths. It was six 1/2 lengths back to Social
Inclusion who nudged out General A Rod by a head for third. California Chrome ran the 1
3/16 miles in 1:54.84. The final time
was the fastest since Big Brown’s victory in 1:54.80.
Victor Espinoza
had this to say about his Preakness trip:
“I was going to sit second, so I sit back until the other horse got
clear of me and it worked out perfect.
The eight horse (Social Inclusion) moved a little early, I thought he
moved too soon, but I had to go with him.”
AN
overjoyed and emotional Art Sherman stated,
“It’s quite a thrill. I knew he had to
run harder. I’ll tell you one thing, he’s
the real thing. We worked hard all year
and Victor rode him perfect. New York,
here we come!”
California Chrome is the thirty-fourth horse to win the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes. As the favorite, he paid $3.00, Ride On Curlin paid $5.60 to place and Social Inclusion returned $3.40 to show. The $2 exacta was $18.20, Trifecta $76.00 and $1 Superfecta paid $173.80.
