No Triple Crown and a disappointing run from Orb in the Preakness. He made a nice move down the backstretch to go between horses and settle into third. Then Goldencents passed him on the inside and he found himself boxed in between horses. Although he did have room if he had fired at that point, instead he went backwards and only made a very late stretch run under a lot of crop action from Rosario.
No real excuses except he didn't run his race. Was this because he was on the rail? Maybe. Other jockeys said it was heavy on the inside, but Roasario moved him into the middle of the pack, away from the rail. It was at this point that he looked to have been in perfect position to make his move, and he just didn't fire.
That is how it goes in this most fickle of sports. But kudos to the old guy, Gary Stevens, winning his sixth Preakness at age 52. Wire to wire, out of traffic, just taking charge. He too, in my opinion, beat up on his horse pretty well.
I don't think we will see either Orb or Oxbow in the Belmont but only time will tell.
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