Big Brown Easily Claims Second Leg of Triple Crown

Kent Desormeaux kept looking back, and no one was coming. Not even close, and once again it was Big Brown first and the rest nowhere. The Pimlico crowd of 112,222 roared, saluting greatness that is rarely seen.

It was hard to imagine that his Preakness triumph Saturday could be easier and more impressive than his Kentucky Derby runaway, but it was.

When Desormeaux turned the muscular bay colt loose leaving the far turn, the race was over instantly. Under a stranglehold through the final sixteenth of a mile, Big Brown cantered to a 51/4-length romp over 39-to-1 shot Macho Again, who beat 22-to-1 Icabad Crane by a half-length.

Big Brown's margin could have been 15, but his rider was saving him for a shot at the first Triple Crown sweep since Affirmed in 1978.

With a furlong to go, Street Sense was 1 1/2 lengths clear but Curlin was gaining with every stride. The pair dueled neck and neck through the final 1/16, but Curlin dug in late to poke his head in front at the line to get the victory in 1:53.46, tying the stakes record. It was a long 4 lengths back to the tiring Hard Spun in third, and 25-1 C P West was fourth. Circular Quay was fifth.

Bernardini wins the 2006 Preakness

The 2006 renewal of the $1,000,000 Preakness (G1), the second jewel of racing's Triple Crown, was contested at Pimlico Race Course before a paid attendance of 118,402. Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro was sent off as the overwhelming 1-2 favorite in the field of nine. Tragedy struck about a furlong into the race, when Barbaro injured his right hind leg and was pulled up by jockey Edgar Prado just past the finish while the rest of the field continued around the clubhouse turn. 13-1 shot Bernardini stalked the early pace of 17-1 shot Like Now through a half in 46.69, taking over the lead at top of the stretch and drawing away to win by 5 1/4 lengths over 8-1 shot Sweetnorthernsaint in a time of 1:54.65 for 1 3/16 miles on a fast track. 29-1 outsider Hemingway's Key was third and Brother Derek, who had to check when Barbaro broke down in front of him, was fourth. The win gave jockey Javier Castellano and trainer Tom Albertrani their first in a Triple Crown event.

129th winner of the Black Eyed Susan Preakness stakes 2004

128th winner of the Preaknees Stakes 2003 "Funny Cide"

Funny Cide flew down the stretch for a runaway victory and a sweet accomplishment for Jockey Jose Santos in the Preakness Stakes on Saturday. It was the second remarkable win in a row for the New York-bred chestnut gelding and journeyman trainer Barclay Tagg. A gelding has never won the Triple Crown.
This win moves Funny Cide to the brink of racing immortality - on June 7 he will attempt to become the 12th Triple Crown champion and first since Affirmed in 1978.