D. Wayne Lukas labored his technique to Seize the Gray after his horse gained the Preakness Stakes and he saved getting distracted by good needs and congratulations.
“I feel they’re making an attempt to do away with me,” stated Lukas. “Maybe they need me to retire. I do not suppose that can occur.”
Not if the 88-year-old Hall of Fame coach retains profitable.
Grab the Gray and it is gone Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan’s Triple Crown bid glided by the wire to win the Preakness on Saturday, giving Lukas his seventh victory within the race, one wanting the document held by. good good friend Bob Baffert.
“I’m just one behind him – I’ve warned him,” stated Lukas. “It by no means will get previous at this degree, and I really like the competitors. I really like coming in right here with the others.”
The grey colt made the a lot of the muddy alternative as Lukas hoped he would, shaking off the upset in a formidable second-straight race after working wild within the Derby undercard race at Churchill Downs. Coming off 9-1 as one of many longest pictures on the board, Seize the Gray took a fast lead out of the primary gate and by no means regarded again, ending in 1:56.82.
Mystik Dan completed second in a subject of eight horses working within the $2 million, 1 3/16 mile race. After failing to bounce again following his victory by a nostril within the Kentucky Derby, it will be a shock if he ran The Belmont Stakes on June 8 at Saratoga Race Course.
“My colt is an efficient colt and I’m pleased with him,” stated coach Kenny McPeek. “It was not simply his day, however he’ll dwell to run once more.”
Seize the Gray was a shock Preakness winner in opposition to more durable competitors within the Pat Day Mile on May 4. Although given Lukas’ connections, it should not have been a shock when certainly one of his horses was lined in a blanket of Black-Eyed Susan’s flowers.
No one within the race’s 149-year historical past has ridden extra horses within the Preakness than Lukas, who has 48 since his debut in 1980 and gained that one with Codex. He was second this time, with Just Steel ending fifth, however Seize the Gray – owned by 2,570 contributors on the MyRacehorse workforce – took the win.
“I could not be happier for all of them,” stated MyRacehorse founder and CEO Michael Behrens. “We had excessive expectations, however this exceeded all our expectations.”
Seize the Gray paid $21.60 to win, $8.40 to position and $4.40 to indicate. Mystik Dan paid $4.20 and $2.80, whereas third place holder Freedom paid $3.20 to indicate.
Baffert, who was searching for a record-extending ninth Preakness victory, ought to have had two horses within the subject, however the morning line favourite. The tree scratched earlier within the week due to the flu. Baffert’s Imagination completed seventh.
“He’s nonetheless studying,” Baffert stated. “I feel we’re studying his fashion. There’s lots I noticed at present that I can change going ahead. I do not suppose he desires 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. they could not repeat their nice Derby outing to win the primary picture of that three-way race since 1947. Instead, Jaime Torres rode Seize the Gray to win. in his first Triple Crown race of any variety.
“I’m speechless,” stated Torres, a local of Puerto Rico who did not begin working till he noticed it on tv in late 2019. “I’m very glad, I’m very glad and I’m very grateful to all of the individuals who adopted me. , helped me.”
This was the final race held at Pimlico Race Course because it stands earlier than demolition begins on the historic however dilapidated monitor, which can host its a hundred and fiftieth race subsequent 12 months within the midst of development.
That course of is already properly underway at Belmont Park, which is why the ultimate leg of the Triple Crown takes place at Saratoga for the primary time and is shortened to 1 1/4 miles because of the form of the course. Kentucky Derby runner-up Sierra Leone, who’s near profitable, is anticipated to make headlines in that subject, though Lukas stated he’ll wait to see if Seize the Gray additionally runs.
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Horse Racing