2009 Preakness Results, Payoffs and Recap
by Kenneth Strong of Predictem.com
Rachel Alexandra guts out win over boys in 134th Preakness Stakes
May 16, 2009 – Rachel Alexandra did it the hard way in the 2009 Preakness on Saturday, proving herself to be a true champion in every sense of the word. She set fast fractions and ran classy speed horse Big Drama into the ground, and then found enough to hold off fast-closing Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird in an impressive performance at a short price. It was a joy to watch even if we did bet against her.
Breaking from post 13, Rachel Alexandra took it to the boys from the outset, rating through good fractions of 23.13, 46.71 and 1:11.01 while maintaining a slight advantage over Big Drama. The latter was fractious in the gate and had to be unloaded and remounted before the break. He then stumbled out of the gate but still managed to make the lead inside early. A tough solid speed horse coming into the race off six consecutive wins (disqualified from his last), Big Drama stayed with Rachel Alexandra as long as he could, but was no match when the real running started. Rachel Alexandra opened up on her pace rival late on the final turn, got the mile in 1:35.82 and surged to a four-length lead in early stretch. She looked like an easy winner at that point. But Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird had ideas of his own and was gearing up for a big late rally.
Last in the early going, Mine That Bird started to advance on the final turn, came 7-wide between horses into the stretch and commenced a strong rally under new rider Mike Smith. He dug in with everything he had and closed the gap all the way to the wire, but he just couldnt get to the champion filly, who was seriously asked to lay it down for the first time in her life. Later, winning rider Calvin Borel would say she wasnt handling the track when asked to run late, but were wondering if that was simply a way of going Borel hadnt experienced before with this filly who had never been asked to dig in before in romping wins over mediocre fillies. But Borel, who had taken off Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird to ride Rachel Alexandra in the Preakness, obviously knew what he was doing.
At the wire it was Rachel Alexandra by a length over Mine That Bird with Musket Man another half-length back in third after giving his best in the drive. It was 2 -lengths further back to Flying Private, who had steadied mildly twice earlier in the race before coming with a decent late run.
The final time for the 1 3/16-miles was 1:55.08. Rachel Alexandra paid $5.60, $4.60, $3.60 across the board as the favorite and became the first filly to win the Preakness since 1924. She also became the first filly in history to win both the Kentucky Oaks and the Preakness, and she ended yet another Triple Crown Bid. It has been 31 years since Affirmed won the Triple Crown in 1978. And you wont find anyone who thinks Rachel Alexandra doesnt truly deserve her own special place in the history books for this win which was no easy feat – she earned it.
Kentucky Derby runner-up and second choice in the wagering Pioneerof The Nile had a decent trip stalking from the outside to the stretch, but had nothing left for the drive and ended up fading to finish eleventh. It looked like jockey Garret Gomez just took care of him down the lane. Mentally and physically tired of the Triple Crown grind, Pioneerof The Nile is in need of a good rest after some excellent efforts.
Fifth-place finisher Big Drama will return to fight another day and win some good races. Sixth-place finisher Papa Clem had a good trip inside and had no excuse. Seventh-place finisher Terrain had some minor trouble in early stretch during his rally and could be a solid play in his next start against slightly lesser company if gets some pace to run at. Luv Gov passed tired horses. General Quarters experienced some minor trouble in the race but was never going to threaten. Friesan Fire had a good trip stalking the pacesetters from the outside but had nothing left when asked to run. Tone It Down was overmatched and last place finished Take The Points, wide on the first turn, showed little interest after that.
A 3-year-old filly by Medaglia DOro-Lotta Kim by Roar, Rachel Alexandra is now trained by Steve Asmussen. She was moved to Asmussens barn from trainer Hal Wiggins after being sold for a rumored $7-10 million to the partnership of Jess Jacksons Stonestreet Stable and Harold McCormick six days after winning the Kentucky Oaks. She earned $660,000 for her Preakness victory, increasing her lifetime earnings to $1,618,354 from a record of 8-2-0 in eleven starts.
Mine That Bird will now point for the Belmont. No decision has been made as to where Rachel Alexandra will run next. As the lone speed in the Belmont, she might be worth betting, but after gutting it out to win the Preakness, she could regress. Taking nothing away from her historic Preakness win, we just may have seen the best of her at least against males.
But oh it was such a pleasure to watch.
2009 Preakness Stakes Results and Payoffs
Pimlico, Race 12, May 16, 2009
13 – Rachel Alexandra $5.60 $4.60 $3.60
2 Mine That Bird $6.60 $4.80
3 Musket Man $5.00
10 Flying Private
$2 Preakness Exacta 13-2 paid $39.20
$2 Preakness Trifecta 13-2-3 paid $216.20
$1 Preakness Superfecta 13-2-3-10 paid $2,903.80
$2 Preakness Super High Five 13-2-3-10-1 paid $34,003.20
$2 Pick 3 1/8 3/9 13 (3 winners required) paid $94.80
$2 Pick 4 4/5/8 1/8 3/9 13 (4 winners required) paid $130.20
$2 Daily Double 3-13 paid $20.00
$2 Daily Double (Black-Eyed Susan-Preakness) 2-13 paid $16.80
$2 Daily Double 5-2 paid $111.00
