Photo Kevin Mullaney A horse named Diabolical lived up to his name in one of the races preceding the Preakness Stakes in Maryland last Saturday.
Slideshow photos Kevin Mullaney A solid day of racing concluded with the Preakness Stakes in Pimlico on Saturday. Banner sports writer Kevin Mullaney was there.
Curlin dashes Street Sense’s hopes for Triple Crown
Banner Daily Update posted Thurs. May 24 (slideshow)
By Kevin Mullaney Banner Correspondent
Curlin, ridden by jockey Robby Albarado and trained by Steve Asmussen, rallied in the stretch to wear down the favorite, Street Sense, to win the Preakness Stakes by a head Saturday at Pimlico Race Track in Baltimore.
The Preakness is the second leg of the Triple Crown and the shortest of the three at 1-3/16th miles. The Kentucky Derby is 1 1/4 and the Belmont is a full mile and a half. Street Sense had won the Derby two weeks ago with a performance that had many thinking he would be the first Triple Crown winner since Affirmed in 1978.
Curlin was the most lightly raced of all nine entrants. He did not make his debut until Feb. 3, but won by 12 lengths. He then won the Rebel Stakes by five lengths and the Arkansas Derby by a whopping 10 lengths. The Derby was only his fourth start. He rallied to come in third, eight lengths behind Street Sense.
Curlin stumbled slightly at the start of the Preakness and settled near the back of the pack. He started to close the gap around the far turn, finally overtaking Street Sense in the final strides. Hard Spun, the Derby runner-up, was another four lengths back in third. C P West was fourth and was followed, in order, by Circular Quay, King of the Roxy, Mint Slewlep, Xchanger, and Flying First Class.
The final leg of the Triple Crown is the Belmont Stakes on June 9 in New York.
May 24th, 2007
