Napoleon Solo rallied in the stretch to defeat Iron Honor and secure victory in the Preakness Stakes, the middle jewel of the Triple Crown, after a season of mediocre finishes. The race, moved to Laurel Park while Pimlico undergoes renovations, featured a wide-open field of 14, with Taj Mahal the top betting choice at 9-2. The event was held under a capped attendance of 4,800, creating a subdued atmosphere compared to previous years.
Napoleon Solo held off Iron Honor down the stretch to win the Preakness Stakes on Saturday, rebounding from a pair of fifth-place showings for his first victory of the year.
Kentucky Derby winner Golden Tempo was held out of the race, leaving a wide-open field of 14 horses to contest the middle jewel of the Triple Crown, which was held at Laurel Park this year because Pimlico in Baltimore is being rebuilt. Taj Mahal was the top choice at 9-2 - the longest odds for a Preakness favorite since the race moved to its current distance of 1 3/16 miles in 1925.
Iron Honor had been the morning line favorite at 9-2, but he was an 8-1 shot by the time the horses entered the starting gate. Taj Mahal broke to the lead early and covered the first quarter-mile in 22.66 seconds, but trainer Brittany Russell's unbeaten horse couldn't hold on and was passed by Napoleon Solo near the top of the stretch. Iron Honor was a threat late but came up 1 1/4 lengths short.
Previously a rowdy event with throngs of fans and live music on the infield, the Preakness was contested in a subdued atmosphere this year at Laurel, with attendance capped at 4,800.2 men dead after out-of-control driver strikes parked cars, pedestrians on Upper West Side
Preakness Stakes Napoleon Solo Laurel Park Triple Crown Horse Racing
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