The 135th running of the Preakness Stakes on Saturday, May 15th seen Lookin At Lucky rebound from a disappointing performance in the Kentucky Derby to win by three-quarters of a length over First Dude for the $1,000,000 prize at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore. Here are the Preakness results:
Top 10 Finishers & Payouts
———————————-Win Place Show
1. Lookin At Lucky ———$6.80 $4.60 $3.80
2. First Dude ———————–$16.60 $19.20
3. Jackson Bend —————————-$6.60
4. Yawanna Twist
5. Dublin
6. Paddy O’ Prado
7. Caracortado
8. Super Saver
9. Schoolyard Dreams
10. Aikenite
The Race
The Preakness results were not too suprising in that Lookin At Lucky was a 3-1 favorite going in. After losing the Kentucky Derby, trainer Bob Baffert decided to go with a different jockey in 25-year old Martin Garcia. Lookin at Lucky broke cleanly and settled in fifth behind the pacesetting First Dude. Garcia pushed his colt for run on the far turn in pursuit of First Dude, who had clicked off the following quarter-mile fractions: :22.91, :46.47 and 1:11.22. These Preakness results in quarter-mile times were solid.
The Rider
The Preakness results pleased Baffert, obviously, but his decision to go with a totally different rider in Garcia may have been the difference. Garcia came to the United States in 2003 and worked at a deli in the San Francisco Bay area. The owner of that restaurant introduced him to a former jockey, who got him a job as an exercise rider even though Garcia had no experience.
Two years later, Garcia became a jockey, even though he continued to cook two days a week at that same deli as a show of gratitude. One year later he began to find success on the competitive circuit. If the Preakness results made Baffert happy, just being picked to ride Lucky in this race elated Garcia. According to preakness.com, in a post race interview, when asked what he thought the moment he found out he was chosen to be the rider for Lookin At Lucky for the Preakness he said:
It was, like, five days before the entrance. He told me, You will be riding my horse. And then this time he’s ready than ever. He’s going to win the Triple Crown. This time we’re not going to just ride, we got to go win. I didn’t sleep that night. I was so happy to know that I’m gonna ride that horse.
The Rest of the Story
More Preakness results: Lookin At Lucky ran 1 3-16 miles in 1:55.47. Tank’s Prospect (1985) and Louis Quatorze (1996) hold the Preakness Stakes record time of 1:53 2/5. The record margin for victory is 11½ lengths by Smarty Jones in 2004.
The Preakness results also mean that Affirmed is still the last horse to sweep the Derby, Preakness and Belmont in winning the Triple Crown in 1978.
The Preakness results for last year seen Rachel Alexandra win.
