Alwaysmining flies flag for Maryland in Preakness

Alwaysmining has won six straight races, including five stakes, at Laurel Park in his home state of Maryland. If he keeps his win streak going in the Preakness Stakes on Saturday, he will become the ninth Maryland-bred and the first in more than three decades to win his state’s signature race.

Maryland-breds to win the Preakness are Cloverbrook (1877), Dunboyne (1887), Refund (1888), Sly Fox (1898), Challedon (1939), Kauai King (1966), Bee Bee Bee (1972), and Deputed Testamony (1983).

Alwaysmining, by Stay Thirsty, was bred by Avla Pitts. He was a $32,000 purchase as a short yearling by 3-D Bloodstock at the 2017 Keeneland January horses of all ages sale. He was a $130,000 pinhook later that year at the Keeneland September yearling sale, selling to Jim McIngvale. He was a private purchase by Runnymede Racing after his maiden victory last June at Laurel.

Alwaysmining won the Maryland Juvenile Futurity, Heft Stakes, Miracle Wood Stakes, and Private Terms Stakes by a combined total of 36 1/2 lengths before earning an automatic berth in the Preakness with an 11 1/2-length victory in the Federico Tesio Stakes on April 20.