S-Bred Owner Wins Preakness

I'll Have Another wore down favourite Bodemeister once again to capture the second leg of the Triple Crown, the 137th Preakness Stakes, for standardbred owner J. Paul Reddam on Saturday at Pimlico Race Course

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Bodemeister took the lead out of the gate with Pretension second at the rail, Creative Cause to his outside in third and Kentucky Derby champion I'll Have Another following behind in fourth. Bodemeister led the field of 11 around the dirt track with I'll Have Another moving wide up into third place. Bodemeister began to draw away by three lengths down the stretch, but I'll Have Another came charging up late to score in the win photo. The winning time for the 1-3/16 mile race was 1:55.94. Creative Cause finished third.

Mario Gutierrez, 25-year-old leading Vancouver jockey, rode the three-year-old Flower Alley colt for trainer Doug O'Neill, who was making his first Preakness start.

"I knew it was a long stretch and I have to say there was a point I didn't think they were going to get there," commented Reddam, whose interest in horse racing began back in high school with the standardbreds at Windsor Raceway. "They kept digging and Bodemeister was running his guts out, it was a fantastic race. I didn't feel confident we were going to get there until about 10 yards from the wire."

I'll Have Another could be the first colt to capture the Triple Crown since 1978 when Affirmed completed the task of winning all three legs. The Belmont Stakes is the final leg of the Triple Crown, scheduled for June 9 at Belmont Park.

"I haven't thought past today because I just didn't let myself do it and I just can't imagine it," said Reddam. "We'll roll one day at a time and hopefully the horse is doing well out of the race. It's going to get crazy and I'm going to try to keep everyone's feet on the ground."

I'll Have Another paid $8.40, $3.80 and $2.80. Bodemeister returned $3.20 and $2.80. Creative Cause paid $3.60.