The second gem of the Triple Crown took place before a crowd at Pimlico, the traditional host of the Preakness Stakes.
The start was good, except for Bodexpress, who jumped like a rodeo horse and sent the Puerto Rican John Velázquez flying through the air, who fortunately reported no injuries.
Warrior’s Charge was in front of the group and placed very well on the track under the guidance of the Venezuelan Javier Castellano, who was inspired after making good our forecast with Catholic Boy. Improbable the favorite went to the middle of the group and truth be told, never gave a sense of winning.
The fractionaries were not as devastating as expected: 22 2/5 and: 46 flat for the first quarter and half a mile, respectively, was not a factor for those who were hunting the pointer.
The steeds that came from the Derby were doing a good job, because they did not show reveal their weapons and the race kept advancing, but they arrived at the first bend of the final curve and that was when War Of Will emerged.
Mark Casse’s standard-bearer made a carbon copy (I think with such modernity these sheets no longer exist) of his effort in the Kentucky Derby, with the small difference that now was not found with the back of Maximum Security and the avenue that It opened at that time for Code Of Honor, now it was taken full advantage of the son of War Front to take the lead in the final straight and to maintain itself tooth and nail, rejecting the attack that Everfast and Owendale that came closing with tremendous force, putting in real trouble the first victory of Tyler Gaffalione in this type of commitments.
Everything was written, once again, a participant horse was imposed on the Preakness on the first Saturday of May. Baffert will have to wait another year to try to set a new record in the Preakness.
Of the almost 400 three-year-olds eligible for the Triple Crown, only War Of Will will participate in the three tests, which demonstrates the degree of difficulty that each of the gems that comprise it represent. After closing the first two chapters, the “Test of the Champions” remains on the second Saturday of June in Belmont Park.