BALTIMORE – Canadian-owned I’ll Have Another overtook Bodemeister, blazing down the stretch to win the Preakness in the final strides Saturday and keep alive his hopes of winning the Triple Crown.
In a race that was a virtual repeat of the Kentucky Derby finish, I’ll Have Another raced from behind to beat pace-setter Bodemeister.
In the rematch, I’ll Have Another won by a neck after winning the Derby by 1 1/2 lengths.
I’ll Have Another now has a chance to become the first Triple Crown winner since Affirmed in 1978. The Belmont Stakes, the last of the Triple Crown races, is June 9.
Get daily National news
I’ll Have Another is owned by J. Paul Reddam of Windsor, Ont., but the Canadian connection doesn’t end there. Jockey Mario Gutierrez trained at Hastings Racecourse in Vancouver.
The winner covered the 1 3/16 miles in 1:55.94.
I’ll Have Another, second-favourite behind Bodemeister, paid $8.40, $3.80 and $2.80. Bodemeister returned $3.20 and $2.80, and Creative Cause paid $3.60 to show.
Bodemeister broke to the lead and held onto first place for much of the race, but as the horses headed for home, I’ll Have Another bolted past the field, took aim at Bodemeister and won the charge to the finish line.
It was a painful defeat for Bodemeister trainer Bob Baffert, who was seeking his sixth Preakness victory.
I’ll Have Another is the first horse since Big Brown in 2008 to win the first two legs of the Triple Crown.
Comments
Want to discuss? Please read our Commenting Policy first.