Oxbow wins the $1 million Preakness Stakes with Gary Stevens aboard (photo credit: followhorseracing.com)
Hall of fame jockey Gary Stevens got away with larceny in the $1 million Preakness Stakes (G1) at Pimlico in Baltimore, Md., jumping out to set the early fractions aboard 15-1 long shot Oxbow and taking the field gate to wire, with Kentucky Derby winner Orb floundering back in fourth as the 3-5 chalk.
Oxbow, who was sixth in the Derby and beaten 9 ¾ lengths turned the tables, setting moderate early fractions of 23.94 seconds for the opening quarter, 48.60 for the half-mile, and 1:13.26 for six furlongs. The colt had plenty left in the tank late to hold off Itsmyluckyday, who checked in second.
It was the third Preakness victory for the Stevens, who returned to riding this year after coming out of retirement. For trainer D. Wayne Lukas, also a member of racing’s hall of fame, it was his sixth Preakness win, the first since Charismatic in 1999. Only R. Wyndham Walden has more with seven.
“I get paid to spoil dreams,” trainer D. Wayne Lukas said after Oxbow upset Orb in Preakness: nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/51928949/ns…
— NBC Sports (@NBCSports) May 19, 2013
The colt returned $32.80 with the $2 exacta returning $301.40. The late running Mylute with jockey Rosie Napravik as third, the $2 trifecta paying $2,061.60.
Derby winner Orb took much of the betting action, dipping from 4-5 on Friday to 3-5 at post time. The colt got away well early and was down along the inside but never really fired.
We will not have a Triple Crown winner again this year, the last to sweep the three jewels being Affirmed in 1978.
Gary Stevens was relatively surprised he was able to set fairly easy fractions in the early going of the race.
“I pretty much just walked the dog!” the jockey said shortly after the race.
