Curlin Wins Preakness After Thrilling Stretch Duel

Curlin, in only his fifth career start and under regular jockey Robby Albarado, won the run for the Black-Eyed Susans in the very final jump, by just a head.

Curlin and jockey Robby Albarado Photo Courtesy: Jim McCue/MJC

BALTIMORE - At the end of a thrilling stretch duel, Stonestreet Stables, Padua Stables, George Bolton & Midnight Cry Stables’ Curlin turned the tables on Kentucky Derby winner Street Sense with a late surge at the wire to emerge as the winner of the 132nd running of the $1,000,000 Preakness Stakes (Grade I) for 3-year-olds before a record crowd at Pimlico Race Course.

On a beautiful spring afternoon in Baltimore, which shifted between bright blue skies and sporadic light rain late during the racing day, 121,263 packed Pimlico, the largest crowd to witness a sporting event in the state, surpassing Preakness 131 when 118,402 attended. A total of $87,202,550 was bet on the entire racing card, the fourth highest in history.

Curlin, in only his fifth career start and under regular jockey Robby Albarado, won the run for the Black-Eyed Susans in the very final jump, by just a head.

Street Sense finished second, four lengths ahead of Hard Spun, who settled for third.

Curlin’s final time of 1:53.46 tied the Preakness Stakes record for 1-3/16 miles, held jointly by Louis Quatorze (1966) and Tank’s Prospect (1985).

The result was a repeat of the one-two-three finishers from the Kentucky Derby two Saturday’s ago, but this time in a completely different jumble.

Street Sense had finished first, Hard Spun second and Curlin third at Churchill Downs. Today the result was Curlin, then Street Sense and then Hard Spun.

The race commenced with longshot Xchanger racing to the lead in a spritely :22.83 for the opening furlong.

Xchanger was still in front after a half mile, but soon Hard Spun and jockey Mario Pino were at his flank and charging by.

Hard Spun led into the home stretch, but was suddenly under attack from 6-5 favorite Street Sense, who wrested command and led by a length and a half with a furlong to the finish.

The Derby winner appeared to be on his way to victory, but Curlin, who had been passed by Street Sense when he began to mount his charge, inched back at the leader, hooked him, dogged him and emerged as best.

The winner, a chestnut son of Smart Strike, who was bred by Fares Farm Inc. in Kentucky, paid $8.80, $3.80 and $2.80.

Trained by Steve Asmussen, Curlin topped a $23.20 exacta, a $50 trifecta and a $340.30 superfecta.

The also rans, in order of finish, were C P West, Circular Quay, King of the Roxy, Mint Slewlep, Xchanger and Flying First Class.

Adding comments to these stories has been disabled. View the current sports stories Salem-News Sports