Sunday 22 May 2022 01:28 AM Early Voting overcomes scorching 90F heat to win the Preakness trends now
Early Voting overcame sweltering heat to win the 147th Preakness Stakes at Pimlico on Saturday, in an unusual Triple Crown race that went off without longshot Kentucky Derby winner Rich Strike.
With 2017 Belmont winner Jose Ortiz up, Early Voting (5-1 odds) settled in behind early leader Armagnac before wresting control of the affair around the far turn from the outside.
Seeming to lose steam in the sweltering heat, Kentucky Derby runner-up Epicenter (6-5) once again settled for second and Creative Minister (10-1) finishing third.
'This is a huge race. It's a dream come true,' Ortiz said through tears after the race. 'We always knew he was very talented.'
Jose L Ortiz aboard Early Voting wins the running of the 147 Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course on Saturday
Early Voting with jockey Jose Ortiz aboard and the blanket of black-eyed Susans is seen in the winners circle at Pimlico
Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, right, presents the Woodlawn Vase to Seth Klarman, owner of Early Voting, after his horse won the 147th running of the Preakness Stakes horse race at Pimlico Race Course
A woman fans herself to fight off sweltering heat conditions while waiting for the start of an undercard race on Saturday
The 1 and 3/16-mile race carried on under punishing conditions, the temperature hovering near 90 degrees Fahrenheit.
The second leg of the famed American thoroughbred racing triumvirate carried on without the possibility of a Triple Crown winner this year.
In a rare move, the Derby's shock winner pulled out, with his owners citing the quick turnaround to Baltimore.
Rich Strike's owners opted to rest their horse in favor of the Belmont Stakes on June 11 in Elmont, New York. That assured that there will not be a Triple Crown winner for the 42nd time in the past 44 years.
The Preakness, held at the venerable but crumbling Pimlico Race Course, carries a total purse of $1.65 million, with the first-place finisher earning 60 percent ($990,000).
Early Voting and longshot Armagnac showed early speed in Saturday's race, with 18-1 longshot Armagnac setting the pace down the backstretch.
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