Seize The Grey Triumphs in Preakness Stakes with Mystik Dan Taking Second Place
Witness Seize The Grey's remarkable victory in the 149th Preakness Stakes, dominating the muddy track at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland. Mystik Dan closely follows in second place in this thrilling race.
Seize The Grey won the 149th running of the Preakness Stakes at a muddy Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, beating out seven other horses in the field.
At odds of 9-1, Seize The Grey led the race, staying ahead of Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan. Mystik Dan came in second place, with Catching Freedom finishing in third.
For the first time in 85 years, the Preakness Stakes took place on a muddy track, which turned out to be favorable for the three-year-old colt. Jockey Jaime Torres, in his debut at the Preakness Stakes, guided Seize The Grey to a wire-to-wire win.
Mystik Dan made a strong effort to catch up with Seize The Grey on the last stretch but was unable to overtake the gray colt.
Wayne Lucas, the trainer of Seize The Grey, made history by winning his seventh Preakness Stakes crown. At the age of 88, he became the oldest trainer to ever achieve this feat.
The upcoming Belmont Stakes, the third and final leg of horse racing's Triple Crown, is scheduled to take place on June 8 in Elmont, New York.
Dramatic Kentucky Derby
Entering the race at 18-1 odds, three-year-old Mystik Dan came out victorious after an incredibly close Kentucky Derby.
The winner of the race took the lead as the horses turned for home and managed to stay ahead despite strong competition from Sierra Leone and Forever Young. All three horses finished very closely together at the finish line.
According to the NBC broadcast, this victory marked the 10th time in the race's history that a horse has won by a nose, with the last instance being Grindstone in 1996.
The Derby later mentioned that it was the closest three-horse photo finish since 1947. In that year, Jet Pilot finished just a head in front of Phalanx and one length ahead of Faultless.
Jockey Brian Hernandez Jr. expressed his disbelief, saying, "This is unbelievable. That was the longest few minutes I’ve ever felt in my life waiting for them to hang that number above us," as he waited for the official result after the race.
“It was exciting when we hit the wire but I wasn’t sure if we won so it was quite a rush to sit here and wait for it.”
Mystik Dan finished narrowly ahead of his rivals in a dramatic finish at the 2024 Kentucky Derby.
Mystik Dan finished narrowly ahead of his rivals in a dramatic finish at the 2024 Kentucky Derby.
Charlie Riedel/AP
For the Preakness, initial favorite Muth was ruled out of the race due to a spiking fever.
Sierra Leone, with jockey Tyler Gaffalione, (2), Forever Young, with jockey Ryusei Sakai, and Mystik Dan, with jockey Brian Hernandez Jr., cross the finish line at Churchill Downs.
Sierra Leone, with jockey Tyler Gaffalione, (2), Forever Young, with jockey Ryusei Sakai, and Mystik Dan, with jockey Brian Hernandez Jr., cross the finish line at Churchill Downs.
Kiichiro Sato/AP
Related article
Mystik Dan wins in a dramatic photo finish at 150th Kentucky Derby
The Bob Baffert-trained horse was unable to participate in the Kentucky Derby due to Baffert's suspension at Churchill Downs. As a result, Muth will also be missing its second major race of the year.
Mystik Dan's assistant trainer Ray Bryner provided assurance that the horse had fully recovered from the Derby and expressed confidence in its potential to win the upcoming Preakness race.
“He’s a natural. He’s laid back all the time but when the time comes he can switch it on and off, like a key in an ignition,” Bryner told reporters.
Editor's P/S:
The 149th Preakness Stakes was a thrilling race that saw Seize The Grey emerge victorious in the muddy conditions. Jockey Jaime Torres guided the three-year-old colt to a wire-to-wire win, beating out Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan. This victory marked the seventh Preakness Stakes crown for trainer Wayne Lucas, making him the oldest trainer to ever achieve this feat.
The Preakness Stakes was also notable for the absence of initial favorite Muth, who was ruled out due to a spiking fever. Despite this setback, Mystik Dan's assistant trainer expressed confidence in the horse's ability to win the upcoming Belmont Stakes, the third and final leg of horse racing's Triple Crown. The Belmont Stakes is scheduled to take place on June 8 in Elmont, New York, and promises to be another exciting race.
