Preakness Predictions
{{monthName}} {{day}}, {{year}} {{hour12}}:{{minuteTwoDigit}}{{dayPeriod}}
The field is loaded…They’re in the gates…And they’re OFF in the 2011 Preakness Stakes! Out comes Flashpoint to take the early lead with Shackleford and Dance City in hot pursuit. Three lengths off the leader comes Astrology who has settled into a steady beat with Mucho Mach Man right off his flank. Next in line comes Concealed Identity, Midnight Interlude, and Norman Asbjornson in tightly bunched group followed by the Kentucky Derby winner Animal Kingdom, who heads the rest of the closers.
The quarter is run in solid 23 seconds flat with Flashpoint maintaining a slight advantage over Shackleford, in second. Dance City has a garden spot on the outside of those two if he has can go the distance. As the field heads into the backstretch Shackleford inherits the lead from Flashpoint who looks to be throwing in the towel. The half went by in 46 and one, and here comes Midnight Interlude and Dance City to turn the pressure up on Shackleford. The field heads into the far turn and it is three abreast, but here come Mucho Macho Man on the outside and Astrology who has found an inside path!
Six furlongs in a quick 1.10 and three and now it looks like the leaders have had enough! The whole complexion of the field has changed! Astrology has a narrow lead over Mucho Macho Man, but the race has only just begun as the closers are just now finding their best stride! They turn for home and Dialed In is making a huge move from last place, but Animal Kingdom has gotten the jump on him and is advancing with huge move on the outside!
As they hit the three sixteenths pole it is Mucho Macho Man wresting the lead away from Astrology, but Animal Kingdom is flying at him on the outside! A furlong left to run and Animal Kingdom has collared Mucho Macho Man and gains the lead! Mucho Macho Man surges again inside the sixteenth pole, but it will be to no avail! Animal Kingdom still has plenty of run and will take the Preakness by 2 lengths on the wire! Mucho Macho Man was game second, while Astrology ran on well to finish third. Dialed In closed late to complete the superfecta. The final time was 1.54 flat, making it one of the fastest Preakness editions in history.
With this win Animal Kingdom has solidified Kentuck Derby victory, and heads into the Belmont Stakes with hopes of becoming America's elusive 12th Triple Crown winner!
Read More
This is the 17th and final installment of a weekly feature exclusive to Horse Racing Nation tracking the...
Forever Young earned a sparkling 140 Horse Racing Nation speed figure for his victory in Saturday's Breeders' Cup...
The Fasig-Tipton November Sale, held Monday at the Newtown Paddocks in Lexington, Ky., posted sales of more than...
Owen Almighty , the Grade 3 Tampa Bay Derby winner who most recently placed third in the Perryville...
A decade after Michelle Payne became the first woman win Australia's most famous race, Jamie Melham has etched herself...