There was much anticipation from most race goers heading into this year’s Preakness as fans were hoping this would be the year for a new Triple Crown winner. Prior to the 138th running of the Preakness Stakes speculation was rift about this being the year for a new winner of the elusive Triple Crown.
However, the Triple Crown once again slipped form the grasp of the racing world. Horse racing almost always holds surprises, and today was no different. As the field broke from the starting gate Calumet Farm’s Oxbow, with 50-year old Racing Hall of Fame jockey Gary Stevens aboard, took the lead. In an usual race, he lead the field from wire to wire for 1 3/16 of a mile and an easy 1 3/4 length win of the $1 million purse. From start to finish Oxbow never looked back.
Orb, winner of the Kentucky Derby, was the heavy favorite going into the race. He made a bid going into the backstretch, but fell back along the inside of the field, then rallied slightly to finish in fourth place position. Itsmyluckyday finished second with Mylute third.
The Winner’s Circle
The long standing tradition of a Black Eyed Susan Blanket draped across the shoulders of the winning horse and the awarding of the coveted Windlawn Trophy marks the closing of an exciting race. The Windlawn trophy is valued at $4 million and a replica is presented to the winning owners.
With the win Gary Stevens has ridden another horse into Preakness history. Stevens was inducted into the Racing Hall of Fame in 1997, and retired from racing in 2005 only to return to racing and the Winner’s Circle riding Oxbow for 77-year old trainer D. Wayne Luckas. He has piloted two previous Preakness Stakes winner’s, Silver Charm (1997) and Point Given (2001).
Trainer D. Wayne Lukas, four-time Eclipse Award winner as the Trainer of the Year, and United States’ Racing Hall of Fame trainer, has now trained six Preakness Stakes winners.
Brad Kelley, the new owner of the Historic Calumet Farm has added another winner to the prestigious racing legacy of Calumet.
