Mike Pons was about 100 yards past the wire when it happened.
The co-owner and manager of Country Life Farm was seated with his youngest son David and his older brother Andrew on the first turn at a rain-soaked Churchill Downs as he watched Orb charge down the middle of the track to win the 139th Kentucky Derby.
While the Kentucky Derby was the longest distance test for many of the horses coming back for the Preakness Stakes, the mile and three-sixteenths at Pimlico will be the second-longest challenge they have faced up to this point.
When analyzing contenders who have little or no on-track form at longer distances to base an opinion on, examining pedigrees can go a long way in helping separate horses from the pack.
DRF Breeding staff writer Joe Nevills analyzes the Preakness Stakes field, in post position order, in the form of Haiku; a Japanese poem of 17 syllables, in three lines of five, seven, and five.
Orb
The Derby winner
Replete with class on the track
Target’s on his back
Goldencents
Gets up off the mat
After tossing the towel
What’s left in the tank?
Total handle on the 13-race card at Pimlico Race Course on Friday featuring the Black-Eyed Susan Stakes was down 3.9 percent compared to wagering on the same card last year, according to an analysis of the racing charts for each year.
Commingled handle for the 13 races was $12.49 million, according to the charts, compared to $12.99 million last year. The Black-Eyed Susan, which had its purse bumped from $300,000 to $500,000 this year, had seven runners this year, compared to nine last year, and the Pimlico Special had six runners, compared to nine for the 2012 running.
BALTIMORE - Kentucky Derby winner Orb closed as the 4-5 favorite after Friday’s early wagering for the Grade 1, $1 million Preakness Stakes, which will be run Saturday at Pimlico Race Course. There was $178,780 in the win pool, which reflects only money bet in Maryland.
[2013 PREAKNESS STAKES: Latest news, video, and more]
The final odds from Friday’s advance wagering offered on the Preakness are as follows:
BALTIMORE - With 3-5 favorite Last Gunfighter taking Friday’s Grade 3, $300,000 Pimlico Special, here are the will pays for a $2 ticket in the Pimlico Special-Preakness double.
There was $694,983 wagered in the pool.
Last Gunfighter (No. 7) with:
1. Orb $5.80
2. Goldencents $49.40
3. Titletown Five $344.40
4. Departing $55.20
5. Mylute $75.00
6. Oxbow $100.80
7. Will Take Charge $60.20
8. Govenor Charlie $60.20
9. Itsmyluckyday $45.40
Editor’s note: The eighth season of Countdown to the Crown returns as one of the most comprehensive handicapper’s scouting reports of the 3-year-old scene. Posted each Friday at DRF.com from Jan. 4 through the Belmont Stakes, Countdown keeps you apprised of the rising stars of the 3-year-old class from the maiden ranks through the Grade 1 stakes. You can access daily updates, opinions and interactive features at Countdowntothecrown.com as well.
Results and recap articles for the 2013 Black-Eyed Susan Stakes card at Pimlico.
[bc_video_id:292635:]
Similar to the Kentucky Derby, the number of horses sold at public auction will once again trump the homebred entries in Saturday’s Preakness Stakes.
Of the nine horses entered in Saturday’s race, six changed hands through the auction ring at least once, while three were bred by their current owners.
