I’ll Have Another And The Triple Crown Thank You: 137th Preakness Stakes

This weekend sees the second leg of the American Triple Crown take place with the 137th running of the Preakness Stakes (Gr.1). The fabled track in Plimco, Maryland has played host to a number of famous horses over the years: Man O’ War, War Admiral, Secretariat are some of its most iconic runners. It is an historic racecourse, second only in age to Saratoga, having opened its doors on October 25th, 1870.

Engineered by General John Ellicott on 70 acres of land, it was purchased for $23,500 and the track was built for $25 000. The Plimco is a battle hardened veteran of the ages, having survived two World Wars, the Great Depression and many other landmark historical happenings, and is today considered one of the premier dirt tracks in the country.

Only 18 horses have ever won two legs of the fabled crown, and no horse since Affirmed in 1978 has managed the feat, so I’ll Have Another will be up against the odds here. He has a chance to join a distinguished gallery of names, as some of the most famous and iconic stallions and sires in history have won this event. You need only think of Nashua (1955), Bold Ruler (1957), Northern Dancer (1964), Secretariat (1973), Seattle Slew (1977), Affirmed (1978), Sunday Silence (1989), Afleet Alex (2005), Bernardini (2006), Curlin (2007) to know that this is a deal-breaking race, which can catapult a winner not only to stardom but super-sire status. Rachel Alexandra became only the second filly in over 70 years since the great Nellie Morse in 1924 to win the Preakness in 2009.

The Preakness is home to many well known traditions: one of them is to drape the winner with a blanket of Black Eyed Susan’s (Maryland’s state flower, a golden daisy with a black head) across the shoulders of the winner. The blanket of flowers takes 3 people about two full days to create and is refrigerated until the winner is brought into the parade ring. Another interesting if not somewhat dangerous tradition, is the painting of the weather vane atop the Plimco grandstand. Once there is a winner, a brave soul gets up to the top and paints it in the winner’s silks of the jockey and the horse.

The big question on many race goers and punters lips will no doubt be, will I’ll Have Another be able to repeat his heroics of a few weeks back, where he wore down Bodemeister in the home straight to get up to win the Derby in scintillating if unexpected fashion. The handsome chestnut son of Flower Alley (by Distorted Humor), has earned over $2 million in winnings to date. Considering that he was a mere $35 000 purchase, this is quite remarkable, and he has more than repaid his owners faith in him. Until his Derby heroics, he was considered nothing more than a promising if talented colt, and he will have his work cut out for him in a highly talented field of three year olds, including his Kentucky Derby rival, Bodemeister, the up and coming Team Valor entry, Went The Day Well and the Giant’s Causeway colt and Group One winner, Creative Cause and the promising Scat Daddy colt, Daddy Nose Best.

The big question is, will he last the distance? He hails from southern California, which is known for its speed and faster tracks. However the fact that there is such a short period between the Derby and the Preakness, might count against him, whether he has the stamina to last the 1 3/16 mile course, and then go onto make history by becoming the first horse in 34 years to claim the Triple Crown is up to him. 44 chestnuts have won the fabled race over the years, so the omens are good.