Winning the triple crown has been a daunting task for any horse over the past 35 years since Affirmed won all three legs back in 1978. Several horses have won the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness, only to be heart-broken in the Belmont Stakes. Three major stakes races within five weeks of each other along with larger than normal fields make it tough to win as you need racing luck on your side.
However, that’s not the only thing that gets in the way. Another major issue is staying healthy and clear of injury. Simply go back to last year when I’ll Have Another won the Derby and Preakness but was forced to miss his chance at history with a career-ending injury just days before the race.
2013 Kentucky Derby winner Orb can join an elite class by winning the 2013 Preakness Stakes this Saturday, May 18. Only 33 horses have ever won the first two legs of the triple crown. 22 of the 32 missed their chance at claiming North America’s most prestigious horse racing accomplishment.
Kentucky Derby & Preakness Stakes Winners
I’ll Have Another – 2012
Big Brown – 2008
Smarty Jones – 2004
Funny Cide – 2003
War Emblem – 2002
Charismatic – 1999
Real Quiet – 1998
Silver Charm – 1997
Sunday Silence – 1989
Alysheba – 1987
Pleasant Colony – 1981
Spectacular Bid – 1979
Canonero II – 1971
Majestic Prince – 1969
Forward Pass – 1968
Kauai King – 1966
Northern Dancer – 1964
Carry Back – 1961
Tim Tam – 1958
Pensive – 1944
Bold Venture – 1936
Burgoo King – 1932
Only 11 went onto win the elusive third leg and triple crown title.
Triple Crown Winners (Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont Stakes)
Affirmed – 1978
Seattle Slew – 1977
Secretariat – 1973
Citation – 1948
Assault – 1946
Count Fleet – 1943
Whirlaway – 1941
War Admiral – 1937
Omaha – 1935
Gallant Fox – 1930
Sir Barton – 1919
With the absence of 2nd, 3rd and 4th place Derby finishers Golden Soul, Revolutionary and Normandy Invasion, as well as, Derby prep winners Verrazano (Wood Memorial), Overanalyze (Arkansas Derby), and Java’s War (Blue Grass Stakes), it gives Orb a little breathing room. The departure this week of two-time graded stakes winner Vyjack also help his cause. The race may seem to have lost some luster, but it will still include several horses who will give Orb a run for his money.
The field for the Preakness looks to be a short, yet competitive nine horse field. Leading the way will be Santa Anita Derby winner Goldencents who finished 17th in the Derby. The Doug O’Neill trained colt certainly didn’t like the sloppy track and the fact that he didn’t get close to the lead might have played a factor as well. He’s a colt that likes to control the race on the front end as he showed in winning three graded stakes races in his brief career. Last year, he won the Delta Downs Jackpot Stakes (G3)in gate to wire fashion and this year the Sham Stakes (G3) and Santa Anita Derby (G1). In the Derby, he sat 4th early on and didn’t like the wet dirt kicking him in the face. Jockey Kevin Krigger eased him up after a mile. If a fast track and he gets out quickly, he is a serious threat to go the entire 1 3/16 miles in gate to wire fashion.
Itsmyluckyday won the Holy Bull Stakes (G3) at Gulfstream in January, defeating Shanghai Bobby, then ran 2nd to Orb in the Florida Derby. He too didn’t like the sloppy surface as he finished an uninspired 15th. By far the worst career performance from the Lawyer Ron colt trained by Ed Plesa Jr.
The 5th place finisher in the Derby, Mylute, looks to build off that effort and win his first ever stakes race. The Thomas Amoss trained Midnight Lute finished strong late in the Derby after being steadied early and going 6-wide on the backstretch and far turn. This effort comes on the heels off a runner-up result to Revolutionary in the Louisiana Derby. He’s only won 2 of 10 races but has been in the money 7 of 10 races.
The War Front colt Departing did not qualify for the Kentucky Derby due to lack of points, so trainer Al Stall Jr. elected to send him to Hawthorne and run in the $750,000 Illinois Derby (G3). He would easily defeat a field of 13 others by 3 1/4 lengths in the 1 1/8 miles race. Despite sitting back in 9th early on and going 6-wide on the first turn and backstretch, then 4-wide on the turn for home, he circled the field and cruised to victory under the guidance of jockey Brian Hernandez Jr. In five races, he was defeated just once. The lone loss was a 3rd place finish in the Louisiana Derby (G2) to Revolutionary and Mylute. Again in that race, he went 4-5 wide on both turns. Be interesting to see how well he runs without any issues during the race.
Will Take Charge could be the surprise horse that goes under the radar in the Preakness Stakes. Two-time graded stakes winner of the Smarty Jones Stakes and Rebel Stakes (G2) at Oaklawn Park this year, ran into trouble down the stretch in the Derby. As he was making a move towards the lead, a tired Verrazano stopped in his tracks and stopped all the momentum of this D. Wayne Lukas trained colt. He finished 8th. After looking at the video a few times, a clean run could have posed a threat to winner Orb. We will never know. He gets his chance for redemption here.
Oxbow is another Lukas trained horse coming out of the Derby. The Awesome Again colt and winner of the LeComte Stakes (G3) at Fair Grounds earlier this year got bumped a couple of times during the race, but held strong near the front for the first mile. He began to fade as they continued down the stretch and finished 6th beaten ten lengths.
Govenor Charlie hasn’t been seen since winning the $800,000 Sunland Park Derby (G3) at Sunland Park on March 24. This colt, also by Midnight Lute, has only started three times and all in 2013. He did not run at age two. Trainer Bob Baffert did not have an entry in the Derby and will look to take down the big boys with his own speedster. He missed in his debut on January 19 at Santa Anita going six furlongs, but quickly returned less than a month later to win going a mile. The step up to the Sunland Derby was his first attempt in stakes company and long distance. He tracked the early leaders and cruised to victory down the stretch to win by five lengths. The final time of 1:47.54 was the fastest 1 1/8 miles time posted this season by a three year old. Baffert narrowly lost the Preakness last year with Bodemeister.
Titletown Five will be the 3rd entry for trainer Lukas and on paper should be an after thought considering what the rest of the field has accomplished. The Tiznow colt comes into this race off a 4th place effort in the Derby Trial Stakes (G3) at Churchill Downs a week before the Derby. Prior to that, he finished 9th in the Louisiana Derby. It took four races to break his maiden at Saratoga and Churchill. He finished 2nd in the Gazebo Stakes at Oaklawn Park on March 2.
It should be an exciting race filled with speed, those who rate and a couple who come from far back. This race will be dictated by how quick or not quick the first two sets of fractions go. Nonetheless, the favorite Orb won’t be too far back for that to bother him. He is the horse to beat after his strong Derby performance. All eyes will be on him come Saturday to see if he can give horse racing yet another hopeful to end the long triple crown drought. Can’t wait!
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