Oxbow outdistanced Orb in Saturday's Preakness dashing hopes for a Triple Crown this year. Many had hoped that this would be another 1978 when Affirmed won the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness and Belmont, but Orb couldn't get it done.
Pimlico Race Track - Site of Preakness Stakes
Many had hoped that this would be another 1978 when Affirmed won the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness and Belmont, but Orb couldn't outrun Oxbow and trailed at 4th place at the finish.
© 2013 by Pimlico
In the wire-to-wire win Saturday over Kentucky Derby winner Orb, trainer Wayne Lukas and jockey Gary Stevens have themselves another classic win with Oxbow. Oxbow covered the 1 3-16 miles in a slow 1:57.54 and paid $32.80, $12 and $8.80. Itsmyluckyday, 15th in the Derby, returned $7.80 and $5 and Mylute paid $5.20 to show.
A crowd of 117,203 showed up at Pimlico for the big race on an overcast day. An underrated Oxbow racing in cool temperatures was never challenged during the race. The trainer of Oxbow, Wayne Lukas has been in the horse racing sport seemingly forever. He is at the barns at 4:30 every morning training and waiting for a win and the media attention that follows.
Orb's trainer, Shug McGaughey, so confident in the two weeks leading up to the race, was gracious despite his disappointment. According to reports, "It was a great opportunity," the Hall of Famer said. "We were 3-5 and we finished fourth. We'll pack it up and go home. Hats off to Wayne."