Preakin’ Fun!

By Jude T. Feld

Despite being the second jewel in the American Triple Crown, the Preakness is often treated like a second-class citizen. Although a victory in the historic race is a necessity to win the three-sided Cartier trophy and rise to the top echelon of great Thoroughbred racehorses, sometimes it seems like racing fans look at the race in Baltimore as an afterthought to the Kentucky Derby or a mere consolation prize.

If in fact the Derby is the beauty queen, then for sure the Preakness is Miss Congeniality.

This year, as in most, every Preakness trainer, to a man, commented on how much fun it is to go to Pimlico during Preakness week. “The Derby is a pressure cooker,” one said. “Dealing with Churchill Downs is a nightmare,” said another. “They even charge you for parking. Pimlico really takes care of you.”

Usually a private and suspicious lot, several trainers lauded the “Preakness Barn” atmosphere where, “We are all in the same locker room and it gives you a chance to see your competition up close and develop relationships with the other trainers. It’s different than the way we do things all year and it’s really is a lot of fun.”

Fun. That sums up the Preakness in one word. ESPN’s Kenny Mayne used more, but his point was spot on.

“Everyone knows about Maryland racing’s political woes and that Pimlico needs a coat of paint, and a few other amenities, but you ignore that when you come here because they make up for it in other areas. The post position draw party, the Alibi Breakfast, the fact that you can interview a dozen trainers in one spot rather than wasting your time chasing them around the barn area and of course the people here. The Pimlico staff will do anything to help you and make your experience more enjoyable.”

If there is any better one-day celebration of Thoroughbred sport in the United States, I must have missed it.

“Get Your Preak On,” was the motto of the 135th Preakness and the challenge was accepted by the 95,760 fans in attendance, over 33,000 of those at the massive party in the infield. Obviously, the huge crowd knew how to have a good time without breaking the place up, because all day long, there were only 23 ejections at Old Hilltop and no arrests.

A thousand stories and soundbites surrounded the race itself – Could Super Saver pull off a Triple Crown? Would the jockey switch help Lookin At Lucky? Was Paddy O’Prado as good on a fast track? Could a Cal-bred win with a little known rider? Every racing aficionado and turf scribe had a theory and a pick and each could give you every reason they were right and you were wrong…unless you liked the same horse, in which case you were complimented on your supreme intelligence.

In the end, most of the questions were answered when Lookin At Lucky, last year’s two-year-old champion, captured the Preakness in a game effort. Avoiding traffic jams better than racecar driver Jimmie Johnson, 25-year-old Martin Garcia made the jockey switch look like the cagiest move of all-time, as he saved ground into the first turn, angled out for a clear run on the backstretch, moved into contention at the quarter pole and drew away at the finish. It was a trip choreographed in Merce Cunningham style by Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert, and explained to Garcia in Spanglish earlier in the week.

“I really love this horse,” Baffert said to me back at the Preakness Barn post race. “He tries so hard. I really wanted him to win. This is vindication for him. He deserved it. I am really happy for him.”

As the Preakness winner was being poulticed and bandaged after a job well done, Baffert was rounding up the rest of his entourage for dinner down by the wharf, directing them like General Patton.

“Martin! You two go with the courtesy car. You guys know where you’re going? Hey! You know how to get there? O.K. I’m going with Jill. Let’s go have some fun!”

Fun. That’s what the Preakness is all about.

This entry was posted on Monday, May 17th, 2010 at 11:26 am and is filed under Featured Articles. Responses are currently closed, but you can trackback from your own site.