145th annual Preakness Stakes

They actually did save the best for last. But first you have to remember that this the year of the coronavirus pandemic, and that, as was the case all around the globe, changes were made in regard to schedules of athletic events from high schools to colleges to the pros being postponed, even canceled. and most were restarted and rearranged in regard to dates, times, sites.

And to get to the chase, the long-running Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Horse Racing was a part of this. It decided to change the order that always began at the Kentucky Derby, then to the Preakness Stakes, and to then race its final leg at the Belmont Stakes. It had to do with the weather conditions of these three sites at these new dates, so the decision was to run the Belmont in New York first, the Derby in Louisville in the middle, and the Preakness in Baltimore last.

And, as it says up on top, they actually did save the best for last, although the racing industry did a poor job of publizizing the event, in other words, after the first two legs, there was no longer a horse that was in the race for the Triple Crown won only 12 times through the years. All was well after the Belmont when Tiz the Law, the consensus choice to win all three races, won going away by 4 lengths, but at the Derby, TIz the Law was second to Authentic, which finished second to the lone filly in the field, Swiss Skydiver, at this 145th Preakness run at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore.

But who knows it was running on this Saturday? Nothing in the newspapers, nothing on the television, not even ESPN, and nothing on the radio. But with a few flips up and down the channel board, there it was on NBA, Channel 4, and it was just coming on, they’re getting on their saddles for the first race. But then came some news welcomed to those who follow horseracing, that was to seeTiz the Law facing Authentic again in what would be a best-of-three, but wasn’t going to take place. No TIz the Law, but Authentic was there. the heavy favorite at 9-5.

I later saw the entire field of 11 on the screen and recognized all those that already ran in the Belmont Stakes and Kentucky Derby. As for crowd scene, there wasn’t much of any except for track officials, some media, trainers and owners, and a band.

Next came the trumpet introduction, as in a bababababad music tone, and then the parade to the post, the gate. No one expected the finish that was to occur, nobody.

So they were off, New York Traffic bumped into another horse, Art Collection, right out of the gate, then they all settled in. It was tight, no one with much of a lead, until Swiss Skydiver, a 7-1 price, midway through the race took to the inside under jockey Robby Albarato, and stayed there, rounded the final turn to the straightaway stretch, when up came Authentic alongside her, he on the outside and she on the inside alongside the rail.

And truly, down the stretch they came. Side-by-side, the jockeys whipping their horses, but no one was yielding until about 15 yards from the finish, Swiss Skydiver nudged ahead by a nose, yes, a nose, and stayed there as they crossed the finish line pole. It was a photo finish, thrilling, a classic, a two-horse race that left the rest of the field some 20 yards backs as long-shot Jesus’ Team placed third and paid $12,20. Authentic paid $3.60 and $3.30. And Swiss Skydirver, the first filly to win this race since Rachel Alexander (the horse) won in 2009, and just the second since 1924. was good for $25.40, $8.40, and $5.80.

The filly clocked a neat 1:22.23 for the 1 3/16th of a mile. Won in dramatic fashion on a stellar job aboard by Abarato. The Preaknesshad usually run on May 16, but it doesn’t matter now. It was run on a nice late afternoon in the Maryland city that calls this race its biggest event of the year, and now it can add on that they saved the best for last, just like saving the best seafood in town for the jockeys