Much of Saturday’s 143rd edition of the Preakness Stakes (G1) at Pimlico was shrouded in fog, but that didn’t stop Justify and jockey Mike Smith from taking the 1 3/16-mile affair to continue their quest for a Triple Crown sweep.
Justify and Good Magic under Jose Ortiz hooked up from the very start and proceeded down the backstretch of Old Hilltop in tandem. While many times the fog obscured the dueling action, it was clear the pair were refighting their Kentucky Derby (G1) battle from two weeks earlier.
The stretch was a sea of white until midstretch, but as the field finally emerged from the murk and gloom, Justify proved to have once again won that battle over his rival. However, the war wasn’t over yet as Bravazo and Tenfold were both making up ground fast.
They just ran out of room as Justify hit the wire in front to stop the clock in 1:55.93 over the sloppy, sealed track that had been saturated with rain all week long. Bravazo held second by a narrow margin over Tenfold, with Good Magic, Lone Sailor, Sporting Chance, Diamond King and Quip completing the order of finish.
