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Medina Spirit Draws Post Three, Installed As 9-5 Favorite For Preakness Stakes Sponsored by:
Medina Spirit at Pimlico on Tuesday, May 11
The first place-finisher in the Kentucky Derby, Medina Spirit has been installed as the 9-5 favorite for Saturday s running of the Grade 1 Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course. Conditioned by Bob Baffert, the 3-year-old son of Protonico owned by Zedan Racing Stable will leave the starting gate from post position three under jockey John Velazquez.
“Post 3 won t win the race for him and it won t lose the race for him,” said Zedan s racing manager and bloodstock agent Gary Young. “We anticipate that he and Concert Tour will be 1-2 early in the race. One will be in front, one is probably going to be second – unless someone alters their plan totally. And may the best horse win, whether it be one of those two horses or one of the other eight.”
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Victim of Love and Joel Rosario winning the 2021 Vagrancy Handicap
Tommy Town Thoroughbreds Victim of Love edged clear to a 2 1/4-length score in Saturday s Grade 3, $150,000 Vagrancy Handicap, a 6 1/2-furlong sprint for older fillies and mares at Belmont Park.
Trainer Todd Beattie said it was an emotional victory after nearly losing the mare to colic following her third-place effort last summer in the Grade 1 Ballerina at Saratoga.
“I actually was a tick choked up in the interview yesterday after the race,” said Beattie. “She puts such an effort out and when she came back she was breathing hard. She just gives it to you and so many horses don t always give that effort, but she s not that way. Although that was fairly easy for her, she put in a big effort.
While the results of the Kentucky Derby remain a matter of dispute, the Preakness will permit trainer Bob Baffert’s horses to run in Saturday’s event. The Maryland Jockey Club announced Friday that Baffert’s horses, Medina Spirit and Concert Tour, will both be allowed to run Saturday’s race after three rounds of blood samples came back clear.