As soon as the gate opened, the 139th Preakness was a battle of tactics and wits as much as a test of raw speed. The field was loaded with potential front-runners, and the jockeys neither wanted to let a formidable rival steal away nor get involved in a suicidal early duel. “There were a lot of things going on,” said California Chrome’s jockey, Victor Espinoza. “I got more tired mentally than physically.”
California Chrome emerged from his win in the Preakness Stakes tired but otherwise fine, trainer Art Sherman said Sunday morning here at Pimlico, where California Chrome will remain for a few more days before heading to Belmont Park and a bid for a Triple Crown in the Belmont Stakes on June 7.
Handle on the Preakness Stakes on Saturday at Pimlico Race Course was up 8.3 percent from betting on the race last year, according to charts of the races.
Victor Espinoza will get a second chance to make history, and this time, he believes he’s better prepared for it.
When Ride On Curlin crushed a field of Ellis Park maidens last July 13, a victory that produced an eye-catching speed figure, owner Daniel Dougherty and trainer Bill Gowan faced the classic question asked of small-scale owners with a clearly promising colt: Hold or sell.
California Chrome kept hope alive for the first Triple Crown in 36 years when running to victory Saturday in the 139th running of the Grade 1, $1.5 million Preakness Stakes at Pimlico in Baltimore.
Utley, persistently knocking at the door during a seven-race losing streak, finally broke through, rallying strongly down the middle of the course to win the Grade 2, $400,000 Dixie Stakes by one length over Hey Leroy on Saturday at Pimlico.
Three starts at three racetracks have produced three victories for the 3-year-old colt Meadowood, who remained unbeaten winning the $100,000 Chick Lang Stakes by three lengths over favored Brewing.
California Chrome took one easy lap around the Pimlico oval on a lovely Saturday morning as his connections put the finishing touches on preparations for the Preakness Stakes here later in the afternoon.
