2020 Preakness Stakes
The 2020 Preakness Stakes was the 145th Preakness Stakes, a Grade I stakes race for three-year-old Thoroughbreds at a distance of 1 3⁄16 miles (1.9 km). The race is one leg of the American Triple Crown and is held annually at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland. The Preakness Stakes is regularly scheduled to be held on the third Saturday in May, two weeks after the Kentucky Derby, but the 2020 running was rescheduled to Saturday, October 3, due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States.[1] On September 2, it was announced that the race would be held without spectators.[2] The race was won by filly Swiss Skydiver.
| Preakness Stakes | |
| Grade I stakes race | |
 "The Run for the Black-Eyed Susans" | |
| Location | Pimlico Race Course Baltimore, Maryland, U.S. |
|---|---|
| Date | October 3, 2020 |
| Distance | 1 3⁄16 mi (9.5 furlongs; 1,900 m) |
| Winning horse | Swiss Skydiver |
| Winning time | 1:53.28 |
| Final odds | 11.70–1 |
| Jockey | Robby Albarado |
| Trainer | Kenneth McPeek |
| Owner | Peter J. Callahan |
| Conditions | Fast |
| Surface | Dirt |
| Attendance | —[lower-alpha 1] |
Background
This was the first time since the 1945 Triple Crown races were affected by World War II that the event took place outside of its regular May schedule.[3] With the 2020 Belmont Stakes run on June 20 and the 2020 Kentucky Derby run on September 5, the Preakness became the final leg of the 2020 Triple Crown.[4] As different horses won the Belmont and the Kentucky Derby, it was established prior to the Preakness that there would be no Triple Crown winner in 2020.
The race provided the winner with a berth in the 2020 Breeders' Cup Classic.[5]
Per a decision by the Maryland Jockey Club,[6] "Maryland, My Maryland" was not played before the Preakness, as had been prior tradition—the song "which celebrates the Confederacy, is considered by some to be racist".[7]
Field
On September 22, the owners of Belmont Stakes winner Tiz the Law announced that he would not run in the Preakness.[8] In his absence, the favorite was Authentic, the winner of the 2020 Kentucky Derby and Haskell Invitational. When entries were taken on September 28, Authentic drew post position 9 in a field of 11. Key rivals were:[5][9]
- Art Collector – winner of the Blue Grass Stakes and the Ellis Park Derby
- Thousand Words – winner of the Shared Belief Stakes
- Swiss Skydiver – winner of the Alabama Stakes, second in the Blue Grass Stakes and Kentucky Oaks
- Mr. Big News – third in the Kentucky Derby
Results
| Finish | Program Number |
Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Morning[5] | Final odds | Margin | Winnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 4 | Swiss Skydiver | Kenneth McPeek | Robby Albarado | 6–1 | 11.70 | — | $600,000 |
| 2 | 9 | Authentic | Bob Baffert | John Velazquez | 9–5 | 1.50 | head | $200,000 |
| 3 | 6 | Jesus' Team | José D'Angelo | Jevian Toledo | 30–1 | 40.90 | 10 | $110,000 |
| 4 | 3 | Art Collector | Tom Drury Jr. | Brian Hernandez Jr. | 5–2 | 2.40 | 10 | $60,000 |
| 5 | 8 | Max Player | Steve Asmussen | Paco Lopez | 15–1 | 11.50 | 11 1⁄4 | $30,000 |
| 6 | 1 | Excession | Steve Asmussen | Sheldon Russell | 30–1 | 56.40 | 15 | |
| 7 | 2 | Mr. Big News | Bret Calhoun | Gabriel Saez | 12–1 | 15.10 | 16 | |
| 8 | 5 | Thousand Words | Bob Baffert | Florent Geroux | 6–1 | 7.30 | 16 1⁄2 | |
| 9 | 7 | Ny Traffic | Saffie Joseph | Horacio Karamanos | 15–1 | 19.00 | 21 1⁄4 | |
| 10 | 10 | Pneumatic | Steve Asmussen | Joe Bravo | 20–1 | 11.20 | 22 1⁄2 | |
| 11 | 11 | Liveyourbeastlife | Jorge Abreu | Trevor McCarthy | 30–1 | 34.70 | 32 3⁄4 |
Source:[10]
Payout
| Pgm | Horse | Win | Place | Show |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | Swiss Skydiver | $25.40 | $8.40 | $5.80 |
| 9 | Authentic | – | $3.60 | $3.20 |
| 6 | Jesus' Team | – | – | $12.20 |
- $1 Exacta (4–9) $37.80
- $1 Trifecta (4–9–6) $1,205.70
- $1 Superfecta (4–9–6–3) $5,053.00
- $1 Super High Five (4–9–6–3–8) $64,812.60
Times: 1⁄4 mile – 0:24.48; 1⁄2 mile – 0:47.65; 3⁄4 mile – 1:11.24; mile – 1:34.74; final – 1:53.28.
Splits for each quarter-mile: (:24.48) (:23.17) (:23.59) (:23.50) (:18.54 for final 3⁄16)
Source:[10]
Notes
- The event was held without a live audience due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States.
References
- Zanzucchi, Mia (May 16, 2020). "Preakness Stakes 2020 rescheduled for October 3". NBC Sports. Retrieved June 20, 2020.
- "Preakness to be run without fans as Maryland continues to cope with coronavirus pandemic". Baltimore Sun. September 2, 2020. Retrieved September 2, 2020.
- Hanson, Vance (March 19, 2020). "1945 – When the Kentucky Derby moved from May to June". twinspires.com. Retrieved June 20, 2020.
- Walker, Childs (May 19, 2020). "Preakness will be third race of Triple Crown as Belmont Stakes moves to June 20". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved June 20, 2020.
- Greenberg, Neil. "Analysis | Odds, analysis and post positions for 2020 Preakness Stakes". Washington Post. Retrieved September 28, 2020.
- Vespe, Frank (September 10, 2020). "Preakness: No More 'Maryland, My Maryland'". bloodhorse.com. Retrieved October 3, 2020.
- Ginsburg, David (October 3, 2020). "Preakness 2020: No fans, no traffic, no booze, no May heat". AP. Retrieved October 3, 2020.
- Bengel, Chris (September 23, 2020). "Tiz the Law, Belmont Stakes winner, won't run in Preakness Stakes". CBS Sports. Retrieved September 25, 2020.
- "Authentic Draws Post 9 for the Preakness". BloodHorse.com. Retrieved September 28, 2020.
- "Preakness Stakes Grade 1". equibase.com. October 3, 2020. Retrieved October 3, 2020.