Derby Winners Often Repeat in the Preakness
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Derby Winners Often Excel in the Preakness
Summary
In the last nine years, six Kentucky Derby winners have also claimed victory at the Preakness, with four winning by margins of over 1 length.Article
The pattern of Kentucky Derby winners thriving at the Preakness bodes well for Barbaro. After a dominant performance in the 132nd Kentucky Derby, Barbaro ended a 50-year drought for 3-year-olds who rested five weeks or more after their final prep race. This feat mirrors Needles' journey in 1956, but unlike Needles, who lost the Preakness to Fabius, Barbaro has a strong chance to prevail.
Barbaro will likely face 14 fewer opponents than he did in Louisville, where he won by 6 lengths?"the widest victory margin since Triple Crown winner Assault in 1946.
In this year's 131st Preakness, only two Derby contenders are set to challenge Barbaro: Brother Derek and Sweetnorthernsaint. Brother Derek made a late charge from 10th to tie for fourth with Jazil, while Sweetnorthernsaint, after an early push, finished seventh.
Notably, Preakness fields have had fewer than 10 starters only once in the past 15 years. In 2000, just eight horses competed, and despite being a strong favorite, Derby winner Fusaichi Pegasus was defeated by Red Bullet, who skipped the Derby.
Bernardini, Hemingways Key, and Like Now aim to become just the second horse to win the Preakness after bypassing the Derby since Deputed Testimony in 1983. Bernardini recently won the Withers, Like Now placed second in the Lexington, and Hemingways Key finished eighth.
Two additional horses may opt for stakes races on the undercard. Trainer Bob Baffert has chosen not to enter any of his Derby horses in the Preakness. Instead, Point Determined and Bob and John will target the Belmont Stakes on June 10. Derby runner-up Bluegrass Cat and third-place Steppenwolfer are also expected to compete in the Belmont.
The largest winning margin at the Preakness occurred in 2004, when Smarty Jones secured victory by 11 lengths, surpassing Funny Cide's 9-length win in 2003. Most races have been closer since Silver Charm’s narrow victory in 1997. Only three horses have previously shared an 8-length record: Little Current in 1974, Bold in 1951, and Buddhist in 1889.
This year’s Preakness promises to be a thrilling contest. Barbaro’s unbeaten streak makes him a favorite, despite the shorter rest period. Both Sweetnorthernsaint and Brother Derek are expected to be formidable at the 1 3/16 miles distance, making either one capable of securing a win.
Ironically, the record for the largest winning margin of 10 lengths, set by Survivor in the inaugural 1873 Preakness, stood unchallenged for 130 years.
You can find the original non-AI version of this article here: Derby Winners Often Repeat in the Preakness.
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