What could be more exciting than watching a neck-and-neck race that goes all the way to the last furlong at the Kentucky Derby or Preakness? That is what we get to witness with horse racing, especially when it comes to the three races that encompass what is known as the Triple Crown of horse racing.
Some years go by, and we don’t see it as such a close race. But this year’s Kentucky Derby winner changed that. This year, all it took was a nose. Or a horse’s snout. This year, a decision that usually takes mere moments to confirm a winner took longer. Why is that?
Kentucky Derby Winner to Headline 149th Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Racetrack
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Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan has been confirmed to run in the 149th Preakness Stakes on Saturday, May 18, 2024. Coming from a race that was won by a nose, the Preakness is the next leg on the way to a Triple Crown victory.
This comes after weighing the pros and cons of the two-week turnaround between the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness. It was all speculation until mere hours ago when the final decision came down and was made by Mystik Dan’s trainer.
It has been six years since both the Derby and Preakness were won. That came during Justify’s Triple Crown year, which was also the last time that the Triple Crown was won. Within the last four years, twice the Derby winner has negated running in the Preakness but ran at Belmont. This year, we could very likely see a Triple Crown with Mystik Dan now running at Pimlico Racetrack.
Mystik Dan Going for the Triple Crown
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Should Mystik Dan go on to win at Pimlico, it seems likely that he would race at Belmont in Saratoga this year. Especially given that there is a healthier stretch of rest time for the horses, trainers, and jockeys in between the Preakness and Belmont.
But he may not be listed as the favorite heading into the second leg of the Triple Crown. Bob Baffert has two horses entered to race at Pimlico, and one of them, Muth, is looking to be the favorite to win the Preakness.
This will challenge Mystik Dan to pull out another stunning photo-finish victory in the quest to be named the next Triple Crown winner. Will we see the contention continue for the coveted Triple Crown title? Or will we see a non-Derby winner claim victory at the Preakness? Should Mystik Dan pull out the victory, we will see a first as the Belmont Stakes are not held at Belmont this year due to renovations but rather upstate at Saratoga. Will a difference in venue for the third leg of the Triple Crown be a factor?
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About the Author
Amanda Bentle is a mother with many talents under her belt. She is also a wife, co-worker, friend, daughter and sister. Writing is something that has always come naturally to her. Amanda is able to share her love of many hobbies as she is not a one hobby kind of gal, with her husband and son.
Not only is Amanda a master of many talents and hobbies, but one of the many things she loves as much as her little family are the cats and dogs that she has rescued and welcomed into her little family over the last seven to ten years.
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