SARATOGA
Friday, May 20, 2011
14
TODAY
The Preakness Stakes Middle Jewel of the TRIPLE CROWN by Marilyn Lane Saratoga TODAY
NBC begins coverage on the Preakness Stakes at 4:30 EST on Saturday. The race is scheduled to go off at 6:18 p.m.
Two weeks ago few people had jockey. winner in 1977. The very next The Preakness is shaping up as year Affirmed bested Alydar in the the ultimate Derby winner, Animal Kingdom on their minds. an interesting contest though three Classics and it seemed that But Graham Motion did not miss a Nehro the Derby runner-up will winning the Triple Crown was beat when his shorter-odds colt, stay on the bench for this one. something to expect, but the years Toby’s Corner, showed signs of Mucho Macho Man ran well in since have proved otherwise. lameness just days before the Run Louisville and gave trainer Kathy Overall 32 horses have been elifor the Roses. He put his game Ritvo a thrill and a classic-placed gible to win the Triple Crown and face on and headed to Louisville horse. He will be a force to be 11 of those have occurred since with an unheralded son of reckoned with in Baltimore. 1978. Our own New York-bred If the Derby favorite Dialed In Funny Cide almost got the job Leroidesanimaux and the rest is history. The talk now is that if wins the Preakness, he’ll enjoy the done in 2003. The Nick ZitoAnimal Kingdom can pull a victo- largest payday ever awarded a trained; Marylou Whitney-owned ry out of the hat in Baltimore, race in North America. To be eli- Birdstone was the spoiler that he’ll be a strong favorite to take gible for the Preakness bonus rainy, cold day at Belmont. the Test of Champions, the money, a horse must have successEveryone will tell you that it’s a fully competed in designated races gut-wrenching heartache to lose Belmont Stakes on June 7. It was a rollercoaster ride head- at tracks owned by MI out in the final leg; clear up until ing into the Derby. John Developments, the parent compa- one has had time to digest just Velazquez had the call on the ny of Gulfstream Park, Santa how great it was to almost get morning-line favorite, Uncle Mo, Anita, and Pimlico. Dialed In is there. Winning any of the three but the two-year old Triple Crown races champ was scratched is a great feat. Each Friday morning one is a careerbecause of an intestinmarker for breeders, al ailment. Johnny V owners, trainers and had to feel like, oh jockeys. And for man, not again. In fans, they are bonan2009 he was scheduled za days. to ride the highly Eighteen horses regarded Derby hopehave completed the ful, Quality Road, but Preakness-Belmont that colt was withDouble. Four of drawn a week before them (Bimelech, the race with a quarter Capot, Native crack. Johnny was the Dancer and Nashua) regular rider of the were real close; Photo Provided Pletcher-trained, redthey all ran second Animal Kingdom hot, 2010 Derby in the Derby. Man favorite Eskendereya o’ War did not start before that brilliant colt suffered a eligible to win a whopping $5.5 in the Derby, but won the career-ending injury just days million in bonus money. He Preakness and the Belmont earned this right by winning both Stakes. before the First Saturday in May. Robby Albarado was named to the Holy Bull and Florida Derby Eleven more horses completed ride Animal Kingdom, but most at Gulfstream. Nick Zito trains the Derby-Belmont Double. unfortunately he sustained a bro- the son of Mineshaft, and Nick There have been so many great ken nose after being thrown and knows the way to the winners’ cir- horses and still only 11 Triple stepped on prior to a race on May cle on big race days. Crown winners. Shackleford, the pacesetter in 4. He took off his mounts on the Todd Pletcher noted last year fifth and sixth and this concerned the Derby, qualifies for a after his first Derby winner, Super Motion and the Team Valor $550,000 bonus via his second- Saver faded in the Preakness International Group (breeders and place finish in the Florida Derby. Stakes that “winning the Triple owners of Animal Kingdom). He might enjoy that the Preakness Crown is the toughest challenge in They could not allow themselves distance is 1/16 mile shorter than sports.” to take a chance on Robby’s con- the Derby. Do I hear a ‘motion’ for a Since the first running of the Kingdom for a crown? I second it, dition and opted to Johnny V. Albeit, it was a confusing way Preakness in 1873 there have been our sport needs it, the fans deserve to win the Kentucky Derby, but eleven to go on to win the it, and this animal is bred to go the with that said this colt deserved to Belmont Stakes and thus the distance. Every connection to this Prior to horse carries a deep commitment win and he appears to be moving Triple Crown. toward the Preakness in great Secretariat’s Triple in 1973, it had to the welfare of horses, and the form. And certainly John been a 25-year drought. Before sustainability of the racing indusVelazquez was long over-due to him you had to go back to Citation try. A crown could not shine any smell the roses, it couldn’t have in 1948. Seattle Slew became the more brilliantly than in their happened to a finer man or better first undefeated Triple Crown hands.