The Preakness Stakes

Triple Crown Fever accelerated into high gear when Smarty Jones crushed the opposition in The 129th running of The Preakness Stakes. The undefeated colt registered the largest winning margin in front of the largest crowd ever, 112,668. Smarty Jones is ridden by Stewart Elliott, who for many years was one of the top jockeys on The New England circuit of Suffolk Downs and Rockingham Park. Belmont Park will be rocking on June5th when Smarty enters the gate. Good Luck to the Smarty Jones team as he tries to become the first undefeated Triple Crown winner since Seattle Slew

Stewart Elliott and Smarty Jones return

The Black-Eyed Susan

Golden Eagle Farm's homebred Yearly Report came into the starting gate as the odds-on favorite for The Black-Eyed Susan,  with good reason. The three-year-old General Meeting filly had won three of four lifetime starts, including a Grade 2 at Hollywood Park,  then won The California Oaks by 17 lengths. With Bob Baffert training and Jerry Bailey in the irons Yearly Report registered a length and a half win over Pawyne Princess in 1:52.65.

Jerry Bailey guides Yearly Report

The Pimlico Special

When last year's Preakness winner Funny Cide was declared out because of the late spring heat wave,  The Pimlico Special lost a bit of its star power. The heat had no effect on Santa Anita Handicap winner Southern Image who ran his win streak to five with a length and a half win over Midway Road. With Victor Espinoza in the saddle the Halo's Image colt  covered the Pimlico Special mile and three-sixteenth distance in 1:55.89.With wins in the Big Cap and The Special, Southern Image moves to the head of this year's handicap division.

Southern Image & Victor Espinoza

Wando, Mr. O'Brien, and Millennium Dragon leave the gate in The Dixie

The Argent Dixie

The field for The Dixie included some notable entries. Last year's Canadian Triple Crown winner Wando was one of the favorites, and last year's Triple Crown entry Senior Swinger also drew the attention of the betting public. The winner, Mr. O'Brien, a Maryland based horse, grabbed the lead at the sixteenth pole and gained a  two-length win. Mr O'Brien was trained by Robin Graham and ridden by Ramon Dominguez

The Sir Barton Stakes

Two years ago Sarava used The Sir Barton as a prep to winning The Belmont Stakes. Nick Zito hopes history will repeat itself. The Zito trained, Tracy Farmer owned Royal Assault passed Dashboard Drummer in the final eighth of a mile to register a convincing victory. Royal Assault is currently a probable for The Belmont. Pat Day will be in the saddle again.