2009 PREAKNESS STAKES

© 2009 HORSEPHOTOS/NTRA

Rachel Alexandra wires the field in The 134th Running of The Preakness Stakes.

QUEEN OF THE THREE-YEAR-OLDS

THE PREAKNESS STAKES OFFICIAL RESULTS

MAY 16, 2009

PREAKNESS STAKES (134TH RUNNING)

$1,100,000 GRADE I  (Rachel Alexandra supplemented for $100,000)

PIMLICO RACECOURSE, BALTIMORE, MARYLAND

FOR THREE YEAR OLDS

ONE AND THREE-SIXTEENTH MILES

MAIN TRACK: FAST

RACHEL ALEXANDRA

Winner

134th Preakness Stakes

Jockey: Calvin Borel

Trainer: Steven Asmussen

Owner: Stonerstreet Stables, LLC & Harold McCormick

Bay Filly

Sire: Medaglia d'Oro

Dam: Lotta Kim, by Roar

Breeder: Dolphus C. Morrison (KY)

OFFICIAL ORDER OF FINISH

  23.13, 46.71, 1:11.01, 1:35.82, 1:55.08

Scratched Horses: None

THE FILLY IS A CHAMP

May 16, 2009

134th Preakness Stakes

Pimlico Racecourse: Baltimore, Maryland

It has been an interesting two weeks since the Kentucky Derby. One would think that the Derby champ would consume most of the headlines for the two weeks leading up to the second leg of the triple crown but it didn't quite work out that way. So instead of drawing it out we have decided to bullet point the highlights of the last two weeks in case you haven't been following:

* Calvin Borel guides Rachel Alexandra to victory in The Kentucky Oaks, winning by 20 1/4 lengths.

* The next day Borel guides Mine That Bird to victory in The Kentucky Derby at odds of 50-1.

* Rachel Alexandra is sold to Jess Jackson's Stonerstreet Stable and co-owner Harold McCormick.

* It is then announced that Jackson intends to run his new super filly in The Preakness Stakes against the colts.

* In an interview on HRTV Ahmed Zyat reveals a conversation he has had with one of the co-owners of Mine That Bird about the two entering another colt to keep the filly out of the Preakness.

* Calvin Borel makes an announcement that he will ride Rachel Alexandra in the Preakness even though she has not been entered yet.  Borel would become the first jockey to get off the Derby winner for another mount in the Preakness.

* Amidst mounting pressure the Derby winners and Zayat back away from a plan to enter another colt to keep the filly out of the Preakness gate.

* After his announcement Borel then works Mine That Bird at Churchill prior to his shipping to Pimlico.

A lot of drama unfolded in the two weeks since Louisville. Many wondered out loud whether the filly should be in the field. Jackson said he wants to run his filly to be a champion not just a champion filly while still others were varied with opinion. At the end of the day the biggest question would be can the race live up to the pre-race hype. Many times in various sports an event is built up to epic proportion and fails to deliver. So on this day thirteen would enter the gate at Pimlico with the filly drawing the thirteen hole going off as the overwhelming favorite. This would be the biggest race in America in at least the last ten years and the filly would not disappoint.

After breaking cleanly the Medaglia d'Oro filly would gradually move to the front as the field entered the first turn and settled down the back side as Big Drama ran at her flank. Entering the far turn the filly, with ears pricked, moved with ease as the field was starting to combust behind her. Big Drama was still breathing down her neck but in the back of the pack Derby winner, Mine That Bird, was starting to uncork a vicious rally. Unfortunately for him the early runners were starting to back up into his rally making it difficult to secure racing room and gave the filly on the front a chance to slip the field at the top of the stretch. In deep stretch as Rachel Alexandra clung to the lead Musket Man finally split horses to the inside while Mine That Bird came running on the outside as both tried to reel the filly in with less than an eighth of a mile to the finish. In the final yards Mine That Bird and Musket Man were all out but could not catch Rachel Alexandra as she became the first filly since 1924 to win The Preakness Stakes.

Say what you want about all the stories and hype but at the end of the day Rachel Alexandra belonged in the race and she was the best. Jackson's courage to enter was rewarded as were the fans who were treated to a great performance and a great race. With all this in mind also take nothing away from Mine That Bird, who many thought was a fluke winning The Derby at 50-1. It wasn't a fluke it was just that he finally found his running style which seems to be from off the pace. And he does it well. And take nothing away from Musket Man either as he is as game as the day is long. He gets in the middle and is not afraid to mix it up and always has a nose to manage to find his way onto the tote board. Where do we go from here is anyone's guess as there is no chance to see a triple crown winner this year but it would be nice to see a rubber match of the Derby and Preakness winner. We will just have to wait and see how all partied come out of the race and who the new entrants waiting in the wings will bring to the party in New York. The main thing we did learn yesterday though is Rachel Alexandra is in another class. And on the big stage she delivered and it is rare when champions perform to their potential on the biggest stage and that is why they are called champions. See you on Broadway in a few weeks.

For the recap of the race see below.

Big Drama was fractious in the gate and bobbled coming out as did Friesan Fire as the field was sent on their way in the 134th Preakness. Rachel Alexandra cleared the field from the thirteen hole and took the lead into the first turn as Big Drama would run a head back in second while Friesan Fire would run third. Derby winner Mine That Bird was content to run last down the backside in thirteenth position. Rachel Alexandra would get the opening splits in 23.13, 46.71 and 1:11.01. She would continue on the lead through the far turn as Big Drama let her get the slip entering the stretch as the filly scooted away to a four length advantage as some of the mid pack runners including Friesan Fire, Pioneerof The Nile and Take The Points starting to back up as Mine That Bird and Musket Man were weaving through traffic moving up in the pack. In the lane Rachel Alexandra was four in front but mid stretch was looking vulnerable as Mine That Bird and Musket Man cleared the rest of the runners and decided it would be a three horse race to the finish. At the wire as her lead shrunk Rachel Alexandra had measured the field and the race the best and won The 134th Preakness Stakes by a length on the wire in a final time of 1:55.08. Mine That Bird was a game second as Musket Man finished third.