Shackleford, a chestnut colt who crewmen struggled to place in the fifth starting gate, won the 136th running of the Preakness Stakes in 1:56.47 at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, MD on Saturday.
Dale Romans (winning trainer, Shackleford) - "I've won some big races, but none as exciting as that one. He's been like that (hot) before all his races. He was a little hot, but he wasn't acting that bad and it's a hot day. It didn't take much out of him. I was more concerned if he was going to hang on. It was fast, but he kind of pulled everyone else out of the race. He has a high cruising speed. We weren't worried about slowing it down as much as getting him into a good rhythmic pace and let him keep on going." (via Preakness.com)
The victory for Shackleford eliminates Animal Kingdom's chance of winning the Triple Crown. Animal Kingdom finished second in the Preakness after winning the 137th Kentucky Derby. Shackleford placed fourth in the Derby.