Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas made history at Pimlico Race Course on Saturday when he saddled Oxbow for a front-running upset victory in the 138th Preakness Stakes (G1). The 15-1 long shot gave his 77-year-old trainer his sixth Preakness victory, as well as his 14th triumph in a Triple Crown event.
Lukas, who had been tied with legendary “Sunny Jim” Fitzsimmons since saddling Commendable for a Belmont Stakes victory in 2000, became the winningest trainer in Triple Crown history.
Overlooked by the bettors, who made Kentucky Derby winner Orb their 3-5 favourite in the field of nine three-year-olds, Oxbow was in control throughout the 1-3/16 mile Middle Jewel of the Triple Crown on his way to victory by 1-3/4 lengths under Hall of Fame jockey Gary Stevens.
Shug McGaughey-trained Orb, who finished 9-3/4 lengths ahead of Oxbow while winning the Derby by 3-1/2 lengths, was never a factor in the Preakness, finishing nine lengths behind the winner, who was one of three three-year-olds representing Lukas.
A crowd of 117,203 flocked into Pimlico, the fourth highest mark in the history of the event. The day included the fifth annual InfieldFest, which featured concerts by six bands, including headliners Pitbull and Macklemore & Ryan Lewis.
The 13-race card generated an all-sources handle of $81,940,233. The handle ranked as the sixth best for Pimlico’s signature day.
“It was a fantastic day to cap what was a wonderful weekend of racing and entertainment,” said Maryland Jockey Club president Tom Chuckas. “I challenged my team to match last year’s record-setting afternoon and they answered the call. The initial feedback on the concerts is positive and the racing office put together a quality card from bottom to top.”
Oxbow, who finished sixth in the Kentucky Derby, joined the Lukas-trained Codex (1980), Tank's Prospect (1985), Tabasco Cat (1994), Timber Country (1995) and Charismatic (1999) as a Preakness champion.
Oxbow’s triumph also created history for Stevens, who became the oldest jockey, at 50, to ride a Preakness winner. Eldon Nelson was 45 when he rode Bee Bee Bee to an upset win in 1972.
The Lukas-trained winner, who ran 1-3/16 miles in 1:57.54, also made more history for his owner, Calumet Farm, which celebrated its record eighth Preakness success and first since Forward Pass's victory in 1968.
Itsmyluckyday, who had finished 15th in the Kentucky Derby two weeks ago, finished second Saturday while tracking the pace early and steadily gaining on Oxbow in the stretch before running out of ground. Mylute, the fifth-place Derby finisher, closed from last to finish third, another half-length back under Rosie Napravnik, who rode the first winner of her career at Pimlico in June 2005 as a 17-year-old.
Orb, the shortest-priced Preakness favourite since Big Brown (2008), finished a half-length ahead of Goldencents, who was saddled by Doug O’Neill, who visited the winner's circle last year with I’ll Have Another. He was followed by Departing, Will Take Charge, Govenor Charlie and Titletown Five. Will Take Charge and Titletown Five are also trained by Lukas, who has been represented by a record 40 Preakness starters.
(Preakness)