2015 Preakness Stakes

Trainer Bob Baffert confirmed on May 3 that the 2015 Kentucky Derby winner American Pharoah came out of the Derby in good health and would be running the Preakness Stakes.{{cite web|url=https://sports.yahoo.com/news/american-pharoah-rules-derby-next-stop-preakness-021911381--rah.html|title=American Pharoah rules Derby, next stop Preakness|date=May 3, 2015|access-date=May 3, 2015|publisher=Yahoo Sports|agency= Reuters|first=Larry|last= Fine}} The connections of the other top three finishers, Firing Line and Dortmund, announced they would challenge in the event.{{cite web|url=http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/91779/preakness-could-be-rematch-for-derby-top-3|title=Tale of Verve Among 22 Entered for KY Derby|publisher=Blood-Horse.com|access-date=April 29, 2015|date=April 29, 2015|last=Mitchell|first=Ron}}

Two contenders that did not appear in the Kentucky Derby were announced as probable entrants in late April: Grade III Lexington Stakes winner Divining Rod (owned by Lael Stable, trained by Arnaud Delacour, bred by Mr. and Mrs. Roy Jackson, ridden by jockey Julien Leparoux) and Listed Stakes Federico Tesio Stakes winner at Pimlico Bodhisattva (owned and trained by Jose Corrales, ridden by jockey Trevor McCarthy).

A week prior to the Preakness, other contenders were announced. These included fifth-placed Kentucky Derby competitor Danzig Moon and the also-eligible Tale of Verve who did not start in the Derby.{{cite web|url=http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/91915/preakness-stakes-hopefuls-remain-on-target|title=Preakness Stakes Hopefuls Remain On Target|publisher=Blood-Horse.com|access-date=May 11, 2015|date=May 11, 2015|author=Blood-Horse Staff }}

The draw for the race was held on May 13 and eight horses were entered.{{cite web|url=http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/91945/mr-z-bought-by-calumet-entered-in-preakness|title=Mr. Z Bought by Calumet, Entered in Preakness|publisher=Blood-Horse.com|access-date=May 13, 2015|date=May 13, 2015|last=Mitchell|first=Ron}} This was the smallest field in 15 years.{{cite web|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Sports/wireStory/american-pharoah-heads-small-field-horses-preakness-31017108|title=American Pharoah Heads Small Field of 8 Horses in Preakness|agency=Associated Press|work=ABC News|access-date=May 17, 2015}} American Pharoah drew the pole position and was installed as the morning line favorite.{{cite web|url=http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/91955/american-pharoah-draws-post-1-for-preakness|title=American Pharoah Draws Post 1 for Preakness|publisher=Blood-Horse|access-date=May 14, 2015|date=May 13, 2015|last=LaMarra|first=Tom }} All entries carried 126 pounds.{{cite web|url=http://www.equibase.com/static/chart/pdf/PIM051615USA13.pdf |title=Pimlico Race 13 May 16, 2015|date=May 16, 2015|access-date=May 16, 2015 |work=Equibase |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150518094126/http://www.equibase.com/static/chart/pdf/PIM051615USA13.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=May 18, 2015 }}{{cite web|url=http://pro.drf.com/results/tracks/PIM/country/USA/date/05-16-2015|title=Results - Horse Racing - Daily Racing Form |work=Daily Racing Form|date=May 16, 2015|access-date= May 16, 2015}}

File:2015 Preakness track conditions.jpg

File:American Pharoah start of Preakness Stakes.jpg

Immediately prior to post time, the skies opened up with a heavy downpour and thunder, changing the track conditions.{{cite web|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/more-sports/american-pharoah-races-preakness-victory-driving-rain-article-1.2225060|title=Preakness Stakes: American Pharoah races to victory in driving rain to set up Triple Crown shot at Belmont |author=Bossert, Jerry|access-date=May 16, 2015|date=May 16, 2015|publisher=The Daily News (New York)}} The infield and grandstands were evacuated shortly before post time due to concerns about spectators being struck by lightning.{{cite news|last1=Payne|first1=Marissa|title=Preakness infield evacuated due to lightning, but the race went on|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/early-lead/wp/2015/05/16/preakness-infield-evacuated-due-to-lightning-but-the-race-went-on/|access-date=May 17, 2015|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=May 16, 2015}} The last time the Preakness had been run on a sloppy track was in 1983.{{cite web|url=http://www.al.com/sports/index.ssf/2015/05/live_updates_preakness_stakes.html|title=Live updates: Preakness Stakes 2015 – American Pharoah breezes to win, Triple Crown hopes alive|work=AL.com|date=May 17, 2015 |access-date=May 17, 2015}} American Pharoah was the only horse in the field to have previously won under such conditions, having won the Rebel Stakes on a sloppy track.{{cite web|url=http://www.nj.com/horse-racing/index.ssf/2015/05/preakness_stakes_2015_with_rain_in_forecast_how_did_american_pharoah_run_on_last_sloppy_track_video.html|title=2015 Preakness Stakes forecast: How does American Pharoah run on sloppy track? (VIDEO)|work=NJ.com|date=May 12, 2015 |access-date=May 17, 2015}} He had the lead within the first quarter-mile and was challenged by Mr. Z early on, but held the lead on the inside throughout the race. He was challenged by Dortmund and then Divining Rod, but American Pharoah broke from the pack in the homestretch and won by seven lengths, as Tale of Verve made a strong rally to overtake Divining Rod to place. Firing Line slipped badly at the start and was eased in the stretch. Baffert commented on American Pharoah's race, "when I saw those ears go up [on the backside of the track], I thought, ‘Oh, yeah. Oh yeah.’” The win by American Pharoah set up an attempt for the Triple Crown for the second time in two years.

Due to weather conditions, the winning time of 1:58.46 was the slowest time since Hill Prince won in 1950 with a time of 1:59.20, and well off the record, set by Secretariat in 1973, of 1:53.00.{{cite web |url=http://www.drf.com/news/secretariat-awarded-preakness-record-153-after-review|title=Secretariat awarded Preakness record at 1:53 after review|author=Hegarty, Matt|date=June 19, 2012|publisher=Daily Racing Form|access-date=June 3, 2015}} The intensity of the rain was described in a post-race interview by Firing Line's rider, Gary Stevens, who explained that he weighed in at 120 pounds with equipment prior to the race, but was 135 pounds afterwards—without his helmet—and needed to empty water out of his riding boots following his weigh-out. Stevens added that the conditions made little difference to the outcome, however, saying "it would take a super horse to beat what might be a super horse in American Pharoah."{{cite web|url=http://www.nbcsports.com/horse-racing/stevens-it-would-take-super-horse-beat-super-horse|title=Stevens: It would take a super horse to beat a super horse|work=NBC Sports|access-date=May 17, 2015}}

The city of Baltimore had been in a state of tension due to the death of Freddie Gray and surrounding civil disorder, and the Preakness was the state's major one-day sporting event, viewed as critical in the healing process for the city. Concerns existed because the track was only three miles from the Mondawmin Mall, where there had been riots. Pimlico's former vice-president for communications, Mike Gathagan, stated to ESPN, "I think sports, like ... the Preakness can help bring back normalcy...It could help start the healing process..."{{cite web|url=http://espn.go.com/horse-racing/blog/_/name/ehalt_bob/id/12864995/preakness-added-importance-baltimore|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150514151740/http://espn.go.com/horse-racing/blog/_/name/ehalt_bob/id/12864995/preakness-added-importance-baltimore|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 14, 2015|title=Preakness has added importance for Baltimore|author=Ehalt, Bob|work=ESPN|date=May 16, 2015|access-date=May 16, 2015}} Maryland Governor Larry Hogan, in awarding the traditional Woodlawn Vase replica to American Pharoah's owner, Ahmed Zayat, stated, "It's a great day for Baltimore, a great day for Maryland."{{cite web|url=http://www.nbcsports.com/horse-racing/american-pharoah-team-accepts-preakness-trophy|title=American Pharoah team accepts Preakness trophy|work=NBC Sports|access-date=May 17, 2015}} Comparing the 2015 Preakness to the post-9/11 home run of Mike Piazza, ESPN's Bob Ehalt wrote, "for that reason alone, this could be the biggest and most important Preakness ever."

• Winning owner and breeder: Zayat Stables, LLC
• Final time: 1:58.46
• Margins: 7 lengths, 1 length
• Track: Sloppy
• Attendance: 131,680

The 140th Preakness payout schedule

• $2 Exacta (1-5) $124.40
• $2 Trifecta (1-5-7) $985.00
• $1 Superfecta (1-5-7-2) $1,906.90

• 2015 Kentucky Derby
• 2015 Belmont Stakes

{{reflist|2}}

{{Preakness Stakes}}

Category:Preakness Stakes races

Preakness Stakes

Preakness Stakes

Category:2010s in Baltimore

Category:May 2015 sports events in the United States

Category:Horse races in Maryland