International Courant
BALTIMORE– D. Wayne Lukas labored his approach into Seize the Grey after his horse gained the Preakness Stakes and stored getting interrupted by congratulations.
“I believe they wish to do away with me,” Lukas mentioned. “They most likely need me to retire. I do not suppose that may occur.”
Not if the 88-year-old Corridor of Fame coach continues to win large races.
Seize the Grey ended Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan’s Triple Crown bid on Saturday by going wire-to-wire to win the Preakness, giving Lukas his seventh win of the race, one shy of the document good friend Bob Baffert.
‘I am only one behind him. I already warned him,’ Lukas mentioned. “It by no means will get boring at this stage and I really like the competitors. I get pleasure from coming right here with the remaining.”
The stout grey colt took benefit of the muddy monitor, simply as Lukas had hoped, making a second consecutive spectacular begin, two weeks after racing on the Derby undercard at Churchill Downs. Going off at 9-1 as one of many longest pictures on the board, Seize the Grey instantly moved into the lead out of the beginning gate and by no means regarded again, ending in 1:56.82.
“I beloved his motion from the again and I knew he was driving on the monitor,” Lukas mentioned. “I mentioned, ‘Be careful, he will not cease.'”
Mystik Dan completed second within the area of eight horses competing within the $2 million, 1 3/16-mile race. After failing to go back-to-back following his victory by a nostril within the Kentucky Derby, it could be a shock if he competes within the Belmont Stakes on June 8 at Saratoga Race Course.
“My foal is a incredible colt and I’m happy with him,” mentioned coach Kenny McPeek. “It simply wasn’t his day, however he’ll stay to race.”
Seize the Grey was a shock Preakness winner who confronted harder competitors than he did within the Pat Day Mile on Might 4. Though given the Lukas connection, it ought to by no means be a shock if one among his horses is roofed in a blanket of Black-Eyed Susan flowers.
Nobody within the race’s 149-year historical past has saddled extra horses within the Preakness than Lukas with 48 since debuting in 1980 and profitable it with Codex. He had two on this time, with Simply Metal ending fifth, however Seize the Grey – owned by 2,570 individuals concerned within the MyRacehorse group – secured the win.
“I simply could not be happier for each one among them,” mentioned Michael Behrens, founder and CEO of MyRacehorse. “We had nice expectations, however this exceeds all these expectations.”
Seize the Grey paid $21.60 to win, $8.40 to submit and $4.40 to indicate. Mystik Dan paid $4.20 and $2.80, whereas third-place Catching Freedom paid $3.20 to indicate.
Baffert, who was searching for a record-extending ninth Preakness victory, was set to have two horses within the area, however morning line favourite Muth was scratched earlier this week on account of a fever. Baffert’s Creativeness completed seventh.
“He is nonetheless studying,” Baffert mentioned. “I believe we’re studying his type. I noticed so much at present that I can change sooner or later. I do not suppose he needs to run like that. We did not actually have a plan. We thought it was going to be Wayne or us.”
Muth’s absence made Mystik Dan the 2-1 favourite, however he and jockey Brian Hernandez Jr. have been unable to repeat their good Derby journey, profitable that race’s first triple photograph end since 1947. As an alternative, Jaime Torres rode Seize the Grey to a victory. in his first Triple Crown race of any type, simply two years after he began driving.
“I’ve no phrases,” mentioned Torres, a Puerto Rico native who did not begin racing till he noticed it on TV in late 2019. “I am very excited, very excited and really grateful for all of the individuals who have stood behind me, serving to me.”
This was the final Preakness held on the Pimlico Race Course because it stands at present earlier than demolition begins on the historic however deteriorating monitor, which continues to be set to host its a hundred and fiftieth operating subsequent yr halfway by way of building.
That course of is already nicely underway in Belmont Park. That is why the ultimate stage of the Triple Crown will happen in Saratoga for the primary time and might be shortened to 1 1/4 miles because of the form of the course. Second-place Kentucky Derby Sierra Leone, a half-step away from victory, is predicted to headline that area, though Lukas mentioned he would wait to see if Seize the Grey would additionally run.
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AP Horse Racing:
Seize the Grey wins the Preakness for D. Wayne Lukas, ending Mystik Dan’s Triple Crown bid
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