Seize the Grey won the 149th Preakness Stakes Saturday afternoon to claim the second leg of horse racing’s Triple Crown.
It was an upset, since all eyes were on Mystik Dan, who won the Kentucky Derby earlier this month by a nostril. It’s a tough task for a horse to win those two prestigious races. Many Derby winners don’t even compete at the Preakness, which is held at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore. The last horse to do so was Justify. That was back in 2018.
But Seize the Gray did make some history. D. Wayne Lukas, who trains the horse, became the oldest trainer to win the Triple Crown. He’s a spry 88, closing in on his 89th birthday. He won his first 44 years ago.
Lukas told NBC Sports that the win felt “like the first one.” His first Preakness win was with Codex in 1980. Seize the Grey represented his seventh Triple Crown victory in Baltimore.
“Can you imagine how people going to relish this and enjoy it,” Lukas said. More than 2,500 people own a share of the horse.
Winning Preakness jockey was making his Triple Crown debut
While Lukas is the oldest trainer, Jaimie Torres is one of the youngest jockeys. He was making his Triple Crown debut when he rode Seize the Grey to victory.
It was a cloudy, muddy afternoon at the track. In fact, the track was classified as “muddy” right before post time. That’s the first time it’s happened since 1939. Still, thousands of fans showed up to celebrate one of racing’s biggest spectacles. Baltimore Ravens legend Ray Lewis gave the “Riders Up” call, while Lamar Jackson watched from the crowd.
At 5-2, Mystik Dan was the favorite to win the blanket made of yellow Black Eyes Susans wildflowers. Muth was another favorite. But he was a scratch after developing a high fever. Catching Freedom (6-1) and Imagination (6-1) also were favorites for the crown.
Seize the Grey took an early lead then maintained it over the 1 3/16-mile track. Mystik Dan tried to make a charge, but Seize the Grey held him off to win by more than two lengths.
Horse racing next turns to the Belmont Stakes. That race is set for June 8.
More must-reads: