After winning seven times here since 1994, Saturday's 128th Preakness Stakes was a big dose of humility for trainers Bob Baffert and D. Wayne Lukas.
Coupled together in an entry with their horses Scrimshaw and Senor Swinger, both owned by Bob and Beverly Lewis, Baffert and Lukas were never a factor as Kentucky Derby-winner Funny Cide waltzed to a 9-3/4-length victory — the second largest ever in Preakness history.
Lukas' Scrimshaw did manage to squeak out a third-place finish, but he was almost 11 lengths behind Funny Cide. Baffert's lightly-raced Senor Swinger was last for much of the race before rallying to finish fifth 13 lengths behind. It was only the third time since 1997 that one of Baffert's horses failed to place here. He's won four times with Silver Charm, Real Quiet and Point Given and last year with War Emblem.
"I couldn't find my horse, so I was watching Funny Cide," Baffert said. "He was really rolling. I think Funny Cide is a little like War Emblem, more of a speed-type horse."
Lukas also praised Funny Cide.
"The winner certainly earned a shot at the Triple Crown," said Lukas, who has won five Preaknesses the last with Charismatic in 1999. "I thought he was the horse to beat and he ran a great race."
Aboard Senor Swinger, jockey Pat Day failed in his bid to tie Eddie Arcaro with a sixth Preakness win.
"The horse looked good, acted good, warmed up good and then obviously wasn't comfortable and never got into the race at any time," Day said.
Scrimshaw jockey Gary Stevens was more optimistic.
"He ran a huge race," said Stevens who won the Preakness in 1997 and 2001. "He fought really hard. It was unfortunate to lose second in the final 50 yards, but that's a pretty tough horse."
http://www.hoosiertimes.com/stories/thisday/sports.0518-SH-C5_PJB72119.sto
Coupled together in an entry with their horses Scrimshaw and Senor Swinger, both owned by Bob and Beverly Lewis, Baffert and Lukas were never a factor as Kentucky Derby-winner Funny Cide waltzed to a 9-3/4-length victory — the second largest ever in Preakness history.
Lukas' Scrimshaw did manage to squeak out a third-place finish, but he was almost 11 lengths behind Funny Cide. Baffert's lightly-raced Senor Swinger was last for much of the race before rallying to finish fifth 13 lengths behind. It was only the third time since 1997 that one of Baffert's horses failed to place here. He's won four times with Silver Charm, Real Quiet and Point Given and last year with War Emblem.
"I couldn't find my horse, so I was watching Funny Cide," Baffert said. "He was really rolling. I think Funny Cide is a little like War Emblem, more of a speed-type horse."
Lukas also praised Funny Cide.
"The winner certainly earned a shot at the Triple Crown," said Lukas, who has won five Preaknesses the last with Charismatic in 1999. "I thought he was the horse to beat and he ran a great race."
Aboard Senor Swinger, jockey Pat Day failed in his bid to tie Eddie Arcaro with a sixth Preakness win.
"The horse looked good, acted good, warmed up good and then obviously wasn't comfortable and never got into the race at any time," Day said.
Scrimshaw jockey Gary Stevens was more optimistic.
"He ran a huge race," said Stevens who won the Preakness in 1997 and 2001. "He fought really hard. It was unfortunate to lose second in the final 50 yards, but that's a pretty tough horse."
http://www.hoosiertimes.com/stories/thisday/sports.0518-SH-C5_PJB72119.sto
