The Triple Crown

The Preakness Stakes

Notes: I've made a few changes to the race.

UUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU

May 15, 2004

12th (6:15 pm EST)

Preakness Stakes. (G1)

1 3/16 Miles Dirt Open 3 Year Olds

Stakes - Purse: $1,000,000

Post # Horse Jockey Wt Odds

1 Lion Heart Smith M E 126 3-1

2 Borrego Espinoza V 126 15-1

3 Little Matth Man Migliore R 126 50-1

4 The Cliff's Edge Sellers S J 126 8-1

5 Song of the Sword Chavez J F 126 30-1

6 Sir Shackleton Bejarano R 126 30-1

7 Smarty Jones Elliott S 126 8/5

8 Imperialism Desormeaux K J 126 5-1

9 Southern Oregon St Taylor J 126 4-1

10 Eddington Bailey J D 126 8-1

11 Rock Hard Ten Stevens G L 126 6-1

12 Water Cannon Fogelsonger R 126 30-1

UUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU

"The horses are approaching the starting gate."

Well, so that's what my 15 minutes of fame feels like you think as you watch the horses approach the starting gate for the Preakness. The last two weeks have been the wildest ride I have ever been on. Well, maybe not the widest. There once was this guy in the backroom but I'm not going there. Who would have thought I'd be a household name. I'd better enjoy it while it lasts. Next year I could be a trivia question.

Two weeks ago Smarty Jones and your horse Southern Oregon State finished the Kentucky Derby in a dead heat for first. The media thought that with the injuries, sickness and deaths Smarty's connections made a better story then us. Hey we're just two queers from Pittsburgh. But we did manage to put the school and Ashland Oregon on the national map. The owner said they haven't got that much national exposure since a student won a rock concert from MTV in the mid 80's. But just like Philadelphia going nuts over Smarty, Ashland and the Rouge valley went nuts over their name sake. The Mayor of Ashland and the President of the University announced they were going to Maryland for the race. Great, no pressure on us right?

We did get our share of press coverage I have to admit. There were a few reporters following our every move. And each one had to get a quote and a photo everyday. ESPN and NBC did pieces on us to use during their Preakness coverage. What do you know I'm an overnight sensation. And it only took me 12 years. A few reporters did get a little to nosey for their own good and snuck around the barn area. That's when our barn dog Sid Vicious lived up to her name. A few reporters got a little to close to Southern for her liking when we weren't around. She's pretty protective of her "baby" and they soon learned you don't mess with the cub when the momma bear is around. But hey the jerk sportswriter only needed 20 stitches. Good doggie.

We got everyone there a week early. It gave us all a chance to settle in. Justin arrived Wednesday. He had some prior riding commitments he had to fulfill at other tracks. I sure missed him. This town doesn't even have a decent bath house. And can someone explain to me what the big deal about crab cakes is.

UUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU

"The horses have reached the starting gate."

Your post position is #9. They'll load the other horses first so it'll be a minute before you load. You keep telling yourself not to be nervous. But it's almost worse then the Derby. Before you were some unknown kid, now you're expected to win. You had peeked at the tote board before and saw you were 3-1. Smarty and Lion Heart were getting must of the action. At least someone has some confidence to bet on us.

We had spent a few days looking at the Racing Form trying to figure out the race. If everyone runs to form Lion Heart will take the early lead with Smarty Jones stalking second. You'll just try to get behind them and let them fight each other. If they run the half mile in 45 seconds or less that means they ran to fast and won't have anything left for the end. You can just bide your time and catch them on the home stretch.  If it's slower then 45 seconds then you're going to have to move early and try and hold everyone off in the stretch. Then again something different could happen and you'll have to figure it out as you go, but that's why they pay me to ride.

You look up as the assistant starter takes Southerns' harness and walks him into the starting gate. Right in as usual. You've got Kent Desormeaux riding on your left and Jerry Bailey riding on your right. They're two of the best so you shouldn't get into trouble coming out of the gate.

Looking over your shoulder you see Rock Hard Ten is being a head case and won't go into the starting gate. During the delay you take a quick look at Smarty. He's just on the other side of Desormeaux in post #7. Your ass is mine you think. There isn't going to be some damn 10 minute photo this time if I've got anything to say about it.

Rock Hard Ten finally gets shoved into the gate. Then Water Cannon is the last to load. This is it. Your body tenses. Then the buzzer goes off and the gates fly open and your destiny awaits.

"And they're off. Smarty Jones gets off to a good beginning. Little Matth man was shuffled back. So to was Sir Shackleton. Southern Oregon State is up near the front."

You just let Southern run the way he wants. Smarty Jones and Lion Heart move ahead of you, but down the center of the track. That gives you a chance to sneak over to the rail before the turn.

"Lion Heart down toward the inside. Smarty Jones comes away with a narrow lead. But there goes Lion Heart with his typical early tactic. And Mike Smith is angling him out as they head toward the club house turn forcing Smarty Jones a little out into the track."

You watch Smith run wide and force Smarty Jones to run even wider going into the turn. That may have just made them run an extra 4-5 lengths. Beautiful. You're running along the rail free and clear. You'll take any advantage they give you.

"Southern Oregon is sitting along the rail third. Uncharacteristic speed from Imperialism who's right up on the pace today, he's running forth. As they move into the club house turn but he's very wide, Smith really taking him out there into the track. Song of the Sword saves ground all the way. He's running along in fifth. Sir Shackleton shuffled back early is sixth. Eddington seventh in and among horses. Rock Hard Ten is under a hard hold early four wide around the club house turn And down toward the inside it is Borrego Water Cannon at the back of the pack today with Little Matth Man."

"Twenty three and three for the opening quarter. And Lion Heart is lose on the lead down the back stretch run. Forty Seven and one over the deep track at Pimlico today for the opening half mile."

You hear 47 and 1. Ok slow to normal pace. Means you'll have to make a move early and fight for the lead.

"So it is Lion Heart in front. And Smarty Jones runs along in second, Southern Oregon bidding his time sitting third. Jorge Chavez moving early with Song of the Sword with five furlongs to go. They're running along in forth. Imperialism is in the clear in the far outside. He's a close fifth. Sir Shackleton is sixth. Jerry Bailey wants more from Eddington. He's not getting it yet. And there goes Rock Hard Ten who rolls up on the outside. And around the far turn Mike Smith is giving Smarty Jones the rail. He remains well off the rail with 3 furlongs to go. Lion Heart is giving an inviting opening on the inside."

This is it. With Smarty and Lion Heart swinging wide they're leaving an opening for you to shoot down the rail. The hole opens up like Moses parting the Red Sea. Ok big guy give me everything you got you think as you tap him with the whip

"And Rock Hard Ten is uncoiling that massive stride of his. He's forth as they come to the top of the stretch. And as they hit the top of the stretch Smarty Jones has taken the lead. But Southern Oregon gives chase down the rail. It is Smarty Jones in front but not for long as here comes Southern Oregon State. Southern Oregon takes the lead and is pulling away. Smarty Jones doing his best but he's second. Lion Heart is third. As they come into the final furlong of the 129th Preakness and it's all Southern Oregon State.

Where the hell did he find that? Southern accelerated so fast he almost threw you off his back. You just manage to hang on. You get your hands on his neck and using a rolling motion you urge him on. Nobody is going to catch us at the wire this time.

"He's pulling away, he's pulling away to win impressively here. Smarty Jones second on the outside. He's going to win by a colossal margin. Here is Southern Oregon State. He wins the Preakness by a dozen lengths. And it's on to Belmont. The pride of Southern Oregon continues his magical way to the elusive Triple Crown. Smarty Jones was second. It was Lion Heart for third. The final time was one minute fifty five and two fifths seconds."

As you cross the finish line you stand up in your irons and pump your fist wildly in the air. God, I love winning. Then you hold to fingers in a "V", V for victory and two fingers meaning "Two down, one to go." We're going to New York. We're going to the Belmont Stakes. We're going for history. And we're going to win.

UUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU

Note: After watching the real race I almost hated to write about Smarty losing. He's a hell of a horse and has a good shot to win the Belmont and The Triple Crown on June 5th.

This story is acting as a bridge to the last part. I know in my own mind it's a little weak. But if there is to be a last part there really can be no suspense here. Southern has to win. But I will promise that that the final part will have a finish you'll never forget.

Return to The Triple Crown