Preakness Stakes Rivalries and Stretch Runs

By: Claudia L. Ruiz

There’s nothing more thrilling than watching two horses gallop down the stretch, neck and neck, whiskers apart, engaged in a full-on-duel that typically requires a photo to determine the winner. The Preakness Stakes has witnessed some electrifying stretch runs featuring some of the biggest names in the sport. Head bobs, noses and necks apart. Without further ado, here is my top 5 list of rivalries and stretch runs dating back to 1978.

Top 5

#1 – Sunday Silence vs. Easy Goer (1989)

Winner: Sunday Silence (KY-bred) Trainer: Charles E. Whittingham Jockey: Pat Valenzuela

The 1989 rendition of the Preakness is simply riveting. After running six furlongs in 1:09 and change, Easy Goer and Sunday Silence dueled neck and neck down the stretch. Easy Goer was looking Sunday Silence right in the eye the whole time — and he almost had him! But Sunday Silence got him by a nose just feet before the wire. No matter how many times you watch this replay, it never gets old.

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#2 – I’ll have another vs. Bodemeister (2012)

Winner: I’ll Have Another (KY-bred) Trainer: Doug O’Neill Jockey: Mario Gutierrez

There’s nothing more heartbreaking than a frontrunner falling short when it counts the most. There’s also nothing more exhilarating than watching the same horse that denied said frontrunner, two weeks before in the Kentucky Derby, come after him again and nose him out at the wire. Bodemeister set some solid fractions in the Preakness of 2012 and I’ll Have Another just said, no. After stalking in fourth, I’ll Have Another opened up his stride wider and wider on the stretch and denied Bodemeister by a head. Team O’Neill returns this year with derby winner Nyquist. Perhaps I’ll Have Another was an omen for what’s to come on Saturday.

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#3 – Silver Charm vs. Free House (1997)

Winner: Silver Charm (FL-bred) Trainer: Bob Baffert Jockey: Gary Stevens

Another grandstand shaker! Silver Charm galloped to win the second jewel of the Triple Crown for trainer Bob Baffert, but it was a photo that saw three horses finish one head apart from one another. Captain Bodgit was third, but a close third, nonetheless. Silver Charm excited the masses late, refusing to let Free House get away. It was a battle of the grays, and Silver Charm was relentless, taking the cake by a head bob.

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#4 – Curlin vs. Street Sense (2007)

Winner: Curlin (KY-bred) Trainer: Steve Asmussen Jockey: Robby Albarado

Who doesn’t love a closer? Third-last for most of the race, Curlin started moving on the far turn and came into the stretch four wide while Hard Spun and Street Sense put away the front runner. By mid-stretch, it looked like Street Sense had it in the bag… Wrong! Grinding away, Curlin’s heart got him their first. By how much? A triumphant head, of course.

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#5 – Affirmed vs. Alydar (1978)

Winner: Affirmed (FL-bred) Trainer: Lazaro S. Barrera Jockey: Laffit A. Pincay, Jr.

When you think of rivalries, this is one of the most talked about in horse racing. Affirmed and Alydar faced each other for the eighth time in the Preakness of ’78 and what a show they put on for the crowd. By the end of the race, Affirmed had won six of those eight encounters. These two are a classic. This race is classic.