Longshot Swiss Skydiver wins 145th Preakness Stakes

BALTIMORE — Longshot Swiss Skydiver edged Authentic at the finish line on Saturday to win the 145th Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course, becoming the sixth filly to win the event and the first since Rachel Alexandra in 2009.

Swiss Skydiver, who was an 11-1 shot at post time, finished the race in 1:53.1 to give Robby Albarado his second Preakness victory. Trained by Kenny McPeek, Swiss Skydiver held off Authentic, who won the Kentucky Derby last month. The two horses dueled down the stretch, but Swiss Skydiver held off the charging Authentic to clinch the victory.

The Preakness, which has traditionally been the middle event among the Triple Crown races, was moved to the last slot as the coronavirus forced the shuffling of the three major races for 3-year-old thoroughbreds. Traditionally, the Preakness is preceded by the Kentucky Derby and followed by the Belmont Stakes.

However, 2020 has not been a normal year for sports, including thoroughbred racing.

There was no Triple Crown drama for Saturday’s race. Tiz the Law won the 152nd running of the Belmont Stakes in June, and Authentic was an upset winner in the 146th running of the Kentucky Derby month.

Tiz the Law skipped the Preakness to rest and prepare for the Breeders' Cup Classic in November at Keeneland, WBAL reported.

It was also the first time since 1945 that the race did not take place in May. This year’s race was postponed because of COVID-19, and there were no fans present at Pimlico. That created a spectator-free sweep of the Triple Crown races.

However, up to 250 family members of horse owners and trainers were allowed inside Pimlico, WBAL reported.

Authentic had been established as the early favorite for the race. His trainer, Bob Baffert, had been undefeated when taking a Derby winner to the Preakness. Baffert was seeking a record-breaking eighth win at the Preakness, breaking a tie with R. Wyndham Walden.

Cox Media Group