"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 colt couldn't hold on and was passed by Napoleon Solo (7-1) near the top of the stretch."
"Iron Honor was a threat late but came up 1 1/4 lengths short. Chip Honcho (11-1) was third. 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. It was the first victory in a Triple Crown race for trainer Chad Summers and jockey Paco Lopez. Napoleon Solo paid $17.80 on a $2 bet."
""All year long, fifth place, fifth place. Everyone said he wasn't as good as he was in the Champagne," Summers said. "This was a win here. People will say it wasn't against the best of the best. We'll find out the rest of the year.""
Napoleon Solo won the Preakness Stakes at Laurel Park, rebounding from two fifth-place finishes earlier in the year. Golden Tempo was kept out of the race, creating a field of 14 horses for the middle jewel of the Triple Crown while Pimlico was rebuilt. Taj Mahal entered as the top choice at 9-2, but Napoleon Solo took the lead near the top of the stretch and held on. Iron Honor, a late threat, finished 1 1/4 lengths behind, with Chip Honcho third. The event drew a subdued crowd capped at 4,800. The win was the first Triple Crown victory for trainer Chad Summers and jockey Paco Lopez, and Napoleon Solo paid $17.80 on a $2 bet.
Read at www.npr.org
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