Here’s a recap of every race in Saturday’s program on 2024 Preakness Day at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore.
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Fitful rainfall Saturday morning pushed the day’s first race — a 5-furlong turf dash — over to the dirt. It was a muddy race decided in the final stretch.
Maximillions Dream pounced out of the gate and toward the inner railing, holding a noticeable lead into the turn. But Irish Heartbeat patiently then forcefully made his pass and recorded the day’s first win in 59.01 seconds, jockeyed by Luis Saez. It paid out $6.60 on a $2.00 bet to win, $4.20 on a $2.00 bet to place and $3.20 on the same bet to show.
Beltane and Laddie Dance were neck-and-neck late, passing Maximillions Dream to place and show. The race’s morning line favorite, Lieutenant General, finished outside the top five.
Desvio was a gambler’s dream during Saturday’s first turf race.
The 3-year-old had the longest odds of any top-five finisher at 35-1, which paid out $79.40, $24.00 and $7.40. Desvio was trained by Madison F Meyers and jockeyed by Yomar Ortiz, who steered a late push in the straightaway of this 1 1/16-mile race, finishing in 1:51.23.
Maryland-bred South Lad built a significant lead for much of the first mile. Jockey Weston Hamilton lost steam around the final turn. St. John’s placed and Porquerolles showed. Understudy Kitten and Chelonian rounded out the top five.
Nasty Habit, jockeyed by Sheldon Russell and trained by Anthony Farrior, left no doubt, rounding 6 furlongs in 1:11.63. The win paid out $14.60, $4.80 and $2.80.
This was the day’s first race to feature a horse trained by the divisive Bob Baffert, who was suspended from Churchill Downs in 2021 and made juxtaposing headlines last year by having a Preakness-winning horse and one euthanized after an injury. Baffert’s Mirahmadi, the morning-line favorite, slogged through the opening stretch of the race but kicked in a late push along the exterior to finish third behind Magic Express.
Great Heavens and Prado Road finished fourth and fifth, a nose behind Mirahmadi.
Jockey Sheldon Russell hopped back on the saddle to win his second consecutive race, this one with Apple Picker in another 6-furlong ride. Russell’s win came in 1:12.34, a tick slower than his first, but paid out $8.40, $4.60 and $3.00.
“I really try and ride her the same way every time,” Russell said. “Her only weakness is that she takes a while to get into stride. … Apple Picker is the type of filly that if you get her clear and show her some running space, she’s going to do her best, and she did that today.”
It was the third career stakes win for Apple Picker and second in as many tries at Pimlico after she captured last fall’s Weather Vane Stakes.
Sweet Shild O Mine and Disco Ebo ran parallel through a quarter-mile in 23.61 seconds before a trio streaked out in front. Behind Apple Picker was Swall in second and Late Frost in third.
Conceptualize, trained by Todd M. Beattie and jockeyed by Jaime Rodriguez, finished 5 furlongs in 58.58 seconds, a nearly wire-to-wire win for a horse outside the morning line’s four betting favorites.
Her win paid out $11.00, $4.60 and $3.40.
Modarosa was second and The Amazing Mizzen finished close behind. But this 11-field spring — tied for the shortest distance but the biggest group thus far — belonged to Maryland-bred Conceptualize the whole way.
The 4-year-old was the day’s first locally bred winner, earning a 15% bonus on a $52,000 purse.
Frost Free had a great break out of the gate, nearly barreling over Market Street in pursuit of the lead spot. Once the 3-year-old Colt reestablished himself, pushing up and to the inside, it was Frost Free’s race to lose.
The win for the morning-line favorite paid out $5.60, $4.00 and $2.60. Frost Free was jockeyed by Irad Ortiz Jr., his third consecutive race but first win. Cats by Five, Mr. Skylight and Catahoula Moon followed in succession. Saturday’s heaviest rainfall thus far came down minutes after the race. But it settled before the following bell.
This was notably the same 6-furlong race in which Baffert’s Havnameltdown suffered an ankle injury and was euthanized a year ago.
The amalgamation of grass, dirt and rainfall settles into ground conditions that doesn’t play to every horse’s strength — particularly in a 1 1/16-mile turf race, the second longest of the day.
“The ground is a little soft,” said jockey Irad Ortiz Jr., who won his second race, this time riding Fluffy Socks across the line in 1:49.79. “I don’t think all the horses in the race like the way the ground is, but she loved it. Broke out perfect. … I’m waiting, biding my time. She did her thing.”
Fluffy Socks hung around the middle of the pack before bolting out to the front in the home stretch. The 6-year-old, owned by Chad C. Brown, paid out $3.20, $2.20 and $2.10 as the favorite. “That’s pure racing,” Ortiz said.
Five Towns finished next in line, Tequilera was third and Blissful crossed the line fourth.
Saturday’s eighth race had some of the least leaderboard oscillation all day.
Super Chow’s 1:11.19 winning time in the 6-furlong race held a steady lead throughout. Prevalence, who finished second, held her position for nearly the entire run. Jaxon Traveler, a Maryland-bred 6-year-old, was on Prevalence’s tail but trailed off during the final stretch, leaving Prince of Jericho and Coastal Mission to round out the leaderboard.
Super Chow’s win paid out $10.40, $5.00 and $3.20. Javier Castellano was the victorious jockey and Jorge Delgado is the colt’s trainer. They were awarded a $100,000 purse.
Patrons who crowded in the winner’s circle against the fence stirred in the final leg of this 1-mile turf race.
Tocayo had the 12-horse field’s best break out of the gate and remained ahead for much of the race. Then, seemingly in succession, scored by cheers from awe-struck betters, Maryland-bred colt Fulmineo pulled in front for the win, with a finishing time of 1:44.78. He was jockeyed by Flavien Prat.
“He’s firm, he’s improving,” Fulmineo trainer Arnaud Delacour said. “It’s great to have a 3-year-old peaking at this time of year. … It’s a very distinct ground today. He looked like he was kicking in so I was very happy with that. Very balanced, very focused. Probably the biggest help, in that regard.”
The win paid out $6.60, $3.60 and $2.50.
Behind Fulmineo was a trio of late pushers. Crystal Quest, Abrumar, Massif and Echo Lane rounded out the top-five finishers, pushing a withering Tocayo out of reach.
This story will be updated throughout the day.
