Oxbow: Ten Easy Steps To Winning Preakness 138

It happens every year. Not long after the Kentucky Derby winner enters the Winner's Circle at Churchill Downs, the hype starts. Over the next 14 days an overabundance of articles get written, putting the Derby winner on a pedestal higher than any of his/her peers.

Regardless of the circumstances, whether the betting favorite or longshot, horse racing fans and media hungry for a Triple Crown winner toss logic, ignoring any negative signs but accentuating the positive.

This year the overwhelming positive sign occurred on the Monday (May 13) of Preakness Week at Belmont Park. Derby winner Orb turned in a stellar workout (4 f in 47 flat). It wasn’t the time but how effortlessly he did it that drew praise from his trainer, Shug McGaughey, using superlatives that he rarely utters when talking about one of his horses. And everyone took the bait.

From that point on, you couldn’t find a soul who was willing to publicly support one of the other unsuspecting 3-year-olds who didn’t stand a chance against the second coming of Secretariat. They were simply running for second purse money.

Well the unthinkable happened, Orb lost. He ran a disappointing 4^th while Oxbow, who finished 6^th in the Derby, took the Preakness field gate to wire.

Off at odds of 15-1, many were speechless. What a fluke! What a horrible race? Why was it so horrible? Maybe because they didn’t see it coming?!   

How could this have happened?! Here’s how…

Step 1: Arrive early… at least five (5) days before the race.

Step 2: Take in the fresh air around your temporary surroundings 

Step 3: Sample the local greens  

Step 4: Trust your Hall of Fame trainer by getting to the track early… 

Step 5: …he knows what's best, which keeps you “on the muscle” AFTER a jog 

Step 6: Have close friends by your side 

Step 7: Put on your Game Face as you enter the paddock

Step 8: Let a Hall of Fame jockey come along for the ride

Step 9: Stay calm and conserve energy before the race

Step 10: Strut your stuff letting the world know they underestimated your ability

Photo credits: Gary "GQ" Quill and Chris "The Dark Horse" Sorenson