Seize the Grey crowned winner in muddy race

Seize the Gray proprietor Michael Behrens mentioned that for quarter-hour after his horse received the Preakness, all he might say was, “Are you kidding me?!”

“We had some massive expectations, however this exceeds all these expectations. I actually don’t have phrases,” Behrens mentioned. “I actually don’t have phrases.”

“I can’t imagine this. That is the race I’ve wished to win, that is the race I’ve wished to win for two,570 individuals. It’s 100% ours.”

Behrens is an proprietor, however solely one among 2,570 in a gaggle that owns Seize the Gray.

D. Wayne Lukas — once more — will get it accomplished.

Two years after coming into jockey college, profitable Preakness jockey Jaime Torres thanked his household for his or her assist.

Torres, from Puerto Rico, rode Seize the Gray to the Preakness win over favourite Mystik Dan, who completed second.

“Very excited,” Torres mentioned after the win. “Very excited and really grateful to all of the individuals which have been beside me serving to me.”

“My household, I need to thank them. As a result of we got here — like lots of people, loads of jockeys — we got here from the underside. … To afford flights and all these issues, to assist me, I do know is tough. They nonetheless do it as a result of they love me. And I respect that so much,” he mentioned.

He entered at 9-1 odds, outlasting Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan.

Seize the Gray has received the 149th Preakness at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore.

The 149th Preakness is underway.

1. Mugatu — 16-1

2. Uncle Heavy — 7-1

3. Catching Freedom — 7/2

4. Muth (scratched)

5. Mystik Dan — 5/2

6. Seize the Gray — 9-1

7. Simply Metal — 9-1

8. Tuscan Gold — 4-1

9. Creativeness — 4-1

Ray Lewis stayed in his Baltimore Ravens character, calling riders up after which breaking into the dance that he carried out to guide his staff’s fearsome protection.

I do not see him as a contender on the 149th Preakness Stakes, however his 20-1 odds make him an intriguing long-shot play.

The horses and jockeys are making their method to the gate. The race is moments away.

In accordance with NBC Sports activities’ Nathan Ackerman:

Brian Hernandez Jr., from Layafette, La., has one Triple Crown win — the 2024 Kentucky Derby, in fact. He’s had 4 makes an attempt within the Preakness. He gained widespread reward for his masterful rail-skimming approach at Churchill Downs a pair weeks in the past, serving to him grow to be the primary jockey since 2009 (and eighth all time) to win the Kentucky Oaks and Derby in the identical yr.

“Brian’s superb,” McPeek mentioned after the Derby win. “In all probability probably the most underrated riders in racing. However not anymore.”

Once I picked Simply Metal within the Derby, I acknowledged that my observe document was poor and that I used to be listening to my coronary heart greater than my head. The story of a resurgent 88-year-old D. Wayne Lukas, his profession unexpectedly rejuvenated with a bundle of gifted additions to his barn, resonates powerfully with me. 

However you see what that obtained me. 

So this time, I’ll go together with my head. A modest tempo appears probably, so I’d like a horse who received’t be too removed from the entrance. A stalker kind that has proven a capability to sit down simply off the tempo after which flip it on as they flip for house appeals to me. I’d additionally prefer it to be a horse that has put up robust pace figures. And a jockey who has loved Triple Crown success can be a plus, too. Oh, and naturally, I’m additionally in search of a worth.

By God, I’ve accomplished it once more. I’ve talked myself into D. Wayne Lukas and Simply Metal.

NBC Sports activities’ Nathan Ackerman breaks it down:

Mystik Dan’s coach is Ken McPeek, who turned the fourth coach ever to win the Kentucky Oaks and Kentucky Derby in the identical yr, when Thorpedo Anna received the previous and Mystik Dan the latter. McPeek is the primary coach to win each in the identical yr since 1952.

The Derby win accomplished the profession Triple Crown for McPeek, whose Swiss Skydiver received the Preakness in 2020. McPeek has received every Triple Crown race precisely as soon as.

The Bob Baffert-trained Muth was scratched earlier than the Preakness after operating a fever earlier than journey. Here is why Mystik Dan, Creativeness and Tuscan Gold are the beneficiaries.

The pattern of trainers’ refusing to run horses on quick relaxation is embodied by Brad Cox. Previously 5 years, as of this writing, his horses have made a complete of 4,741 begins in races throughout the nation. What number of of these begins got here two weeks or much less after the earlier ones? Simply 60.

Not surprisingly, then, not one of the 9 Derby horses Cox fielded earlier than this yr ever tried the two-week turnaround in Baltimore. However in a call that has caught many off guard, he’s going for it Saturday with Catching Freedom, the fourth-place Derby finisher.

And, uncommon as it’s, when Cox does ship out horses on quick relaxation like that, his stats are eye-catching. Of the 60 he has run on two weeks’ (or much less) relaxation, a formidable 16 (27%) have received. And if we set actual parameters just like the Preakness — races at distances run on filth with quick relaxation — Cox is one-for-one, with Tawny Port profitable (at 5-1) the 2022 Lexington Stakes precisely two weeks after a run within the Blue Grass Stakes.

Here is why I like his long-shot odds to win the Preakness Stakes after topping the sphere within the Pat Day Mile two weeks in the past.

Mystik Dan proprietor Lance Gasaway’s ideas had been along with his father, Clint, the person who obtained his son into horse racing, who died one yr in the past.

“You recognize, it’s like, that is for him now,” Lance Gasaway mentioned. “That is his final run with Mystik Dan.”

Mystik Dan is a favourite to win at this time’s Preakness.

Clint Gasaway died at his house in Gould, Arkansas, on Might 4, 2023, on the age of 85.

Mystik Dan received this yr’s Kentucky Derby, which was held precisely one yr to the day after Clint Gasaway died.

Balnikhov slogged via the moist grass and pulled away to win the Dinner Occasion Stakes, the highest undercard contest forward of the thirteenth race at Pimlico, the Preakness.

Jockey Frankie Dettori bided his time earlier than hitting the Irish import’s accelerator down the stretch to outduel Crabs N Beer and Working Bee.

The $500,000 Dinner Occasion is the eighth-oldest graded stakes race in America and was first run in 1870 on the opening day of brand-new Pimlico Race Course.

That inaugural race was received by the famed colt Preakness, whose tragic loss of life in 1881 led this basic American race to be named in his honor.

In relation to the Derby winner, right here’s the image that emerges:   

• 23 of 25 Kentucky Derby winners ran within the Preakness.
• 18 of them completed within the prime three.
• 10 of them received.

That’s 10 wins from the final 23 Derby winners who contested the Preakness — successful fee of 43%. And it is smart. The Preakness is a much more compact and far much less chaotic race than a 20-horse Derby donnybrook. And particularly in recent times, as trainers have shied away from operating horses on quick relaxation, most of the most gifted Derby also-rans have merely skipped this race.

On Saturday, moreover Mystik Dan, solely two Derby alums will compete: fourth-place finisher Catching Freedom and Seventeenth-place Simply Metal.

Mystik Dan, in fact, isn’t an odd Derby champ. He was a protracted shot, profitable at 18-1 odds. That creates skepticism. Was it a fluke? A product of that flawless, rail-skimming journey that jockey Brian Hernandez labored out? That’s why it was Muth, not Mystik Dan, who was initially tabbed as the favourite.

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore celebrated at this time’s Preakness by trying to the long run — generations into the long run.

The state lately handed laws to switch possession of Pimlico Race Course from the Stronach Group to the state of Maryland.

The deal additionally contains what’s being known as full renovations of Pimlico services, in addition to a $10 million funding within the Park Heights group the place it sits.

“We simply signed a landmark piece of laws, a generational piece of laws, that’s going to maintain the Preakness right here in Baltimore for generations to come back,” Moore said in a video today on X.

Subsequent yr, the one hundred and fiftieth, is anticipated to be held at Pimlico. Some years after that it is going to be held at Laurel Park racetrack whereas constriction is underway at Pimlico, the governor’s workplace mentioned. The state will lease that observe for 3 years for $1 every.

The Pimlico Race Course first opened in 1870, and it’s the second oldest racetrack within the nation. The Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, New York, opened six years earlier, in 1864.

There has already been rain in Baltimore this week, and Saturday’s forecast is unsettled. The potential for moist climate raises the potential for a moist observe — a major variable.

Lengthy shot Uncle Heavy is notable for his unblemished moist observe document. Each of Seize the Gray’s moist floor journeys, in the meantime, got here at shorter distances — a pair of dash races final summer season. (He did, for what it’s value, present uncommon aggression in a win over the slop final summer season, charging to the lead and holding on for pricey life towards a top quality subject.)

It’s Mystik Dan who stands out essentially the most, although. He romped within the mud in February’s Southwest Stakes, crushing Simply Metal by eight lengths, with jockey Brian Hernandez using the identical rail-hugging ways we noticed two weeks in the past in Louisville. Perhaps it was that rail journey, not the muddy floor, that made the distinction within the Southwest for Mystik Dan. However on the very least we are able to say he doesn’t thoughts the mud one bit. 

Moments after video performed of Creativeness jockey Frankie Dettori praising England’s Arsenal Soccer Membership within the final a part of the Premier League season, his horse despatched a distinct message.

“Hey guys, I want you all the most effective within the final recreation of the season. You’ve been incredible,” Dettori mentioned, draped in an Arsenal scarf. “All the most effective and exit with a win.”

However Creativeness nuzzled towards a crimson Arsenal flag pinned up subsequent to his pen, then bit the decrease nook and pulled it down.

“And Dettori’s horse, Creativeness, apparently not on the identical aspect as his jockey,” NBC’s Mike Tirico quipped.

Grooms All Bizness navigated the moist grass and stormed to victory within the Jim McKay Turf Dash.

Jockey Jorge Ruiz’s gelding broke out of the No. 1 spot however wanted to seek out house in the midst of the observe down the stretch for the come-from-behind win.

The 5-2 favourite, Beer Can Man, completed fifth within the $100,000 race.

Creativeness final ran April 6 within the Santa Anita Derby, that means he’ll be operating after a six-week break. Three different horses may gain advantage from comparable relaxation: Mugatu and Uncle Heavy haven’t run since April 6, and Tuscan Gold hasn’t since March 23.

All three horses, although, didn’t fare properly sufficient in qualifying races to make the Derby subject — Creativeness did (once more, he was stored out merely due to the Baffert ban).

Favored Company Energy put his nostril in entrance of Gould’s Gold in an exciting end to the Sir Barton Stakes, a Preakness undercard race.

Company Energy’s triumph survived a steward’s inquiry in mild of bumping down the stretch between the winner and place finisher Imperial Gun.

NBC Sports activities’ Nathan Ackerman breaks all of it down:

Mystik Dan is owned by Lance Gasaway and the 4G Racing staff of Brent Gasaway (Lance’s cousin) and Brent’s spouse, Sharilyn. He’s additionally owned by Daniel Hamby III and his brother, Scott Hamby of Valley View Farm.

“To me, that is for him,” Lance Gasaway mentioned after the Derby, which befell precisely one yr after his father, Clint, died. “He liked the sport. He and I purchased horses collectively. … I’m simply so blissful for my household. I had all my household right here. It’s only a big day.”

Bob Baffert, the Corridor of Fame coach, has been the lacking man in Louisville for 3 years now due to a ban Kentucky Derby officers imposed after Medina Spirit’s drugs violation in 2021.

However he’s welcome in Baltimore, and initially he was set to have two horses on this Preakness: Muth and Creativeness. Every would have simply certified to run within the Derby if not for Baffert’s suspension.

However Muth’s scratch from the Preakness leaves Creativeness as the only Baffert entrant. He’s simply 3-1 on the revised morning line and a serious contender. In a race that appears mild on tempo, he might be able to shoot straight to the lead, attempt to gradual the tempo down and final till the end line. It’s a favourite Baffert tactic. His final three Preakness winners — together with Nationwide Treasure simply final yr — all received in gate-to-wire vogue.

Baffert himself instructions respect on this stage. He’s the one dwelling coach to say the Triple Crown (two of them, truly), he has received an all-time document 17 Triple Crown races, and he’s essentially the most profitable Preakness coach ever, having taken this race eight instances. And similar to he did final yr, he has come to Baltimore intent on making a press release.

Preakness favourite Muth has been dominated out of the race after spiking a fever, eradicating a horse skilled by Bob Baffert and doubtlessly giving Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan a clearer path via the second leg of the Triple Crown.

The Maryland Jockey Membership introduced Muth’s standing change Wednesday morning, roughly 12 hours after the horse arrived at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore.

Baffert mentioned Muth’s temperature reached 103 levels and the camp had no alternative however to scratch him. A horse’s physique temperature ought to be at or lower than 101.5 levels.

“We’re sick about this. The horse had been doing very well,” Baffert mentioned. “However now we have to do what’s proper by the horse.”

There have been 13 horse racing Triple Crown winners.

• Sir Barton, 1919
• Gallant Fox, 1930
• Omaha, 1935
• Struggle Admiral, 1937
• Whirlaway, 1941
• Rely Fleet, 1943
• Assault, 1946
• Quotation, 1948
• Secretariat, 1973
• Seattle Slew, 1977
• Affirmed, 1978
• American Pharoah, 2015
• Justify, 2018

Distance: 1 3/16 miles (9.5 furlongs)

Whole prize pot for winners: $2 million

Climate forecast: 74 levels however a 40% probability of showers