Look out for Classic Empire in Preakness
Reigning champion of the crop Classic Empire will be looking to get back on top in Saturday’s Preakness Stakes.
The second leg of the Triple Crown, which was conceived in Saratoga Springs in 1868, will be run for the 142nd time.
Classic Empire was fourth to Always Dreaming in the Kentucky Derby on a sloppy track.
He endured a miserable trip, getting hammered a few strides out of the gate and then having to steady while getting bumped again during his stretch rally.
With this in mind, I thought it would be fun today to look back at a number of horses that came out of a loss in the Derby to win the Preakness.
All went on to earn honors as champion 3-yearold.
PERSONALITY (1970)
Owned by Ethel Jacobs and trained by John Jacobs, he was eighth to Dust Commander in the Derby, beaten 12 lengths.
He won the Preakness by a neck over My Dad George, with Dust Commander finishing ninth.
Personality won the Wood Memorial prior to the Derby, and after his Preakness score secured his title with victories in the Jersey Derby, Jim Dandy and Woodward.
LITTLE CURRENT (1974)
Owned by Darby Dan Farm and trained by Lou Rondinello, the stretch running son of Sea-Bird was fifth, beaten 6 ½ lengths, by Cannonade in the Derby.
He got off slowly in the Derby, racing in 21st place in the field of 23, before launching a rally that saw him make up 16 lengths.
Little Current won the Preakness by 7 lengths over Neapolitan Way, with Cannonade finishing third.
He went on to win the Belmont Stakes by the same margin to earn his championship.
RISEN STAR (1988)
Owned by Louis Roussel III and Lamarque Stable, and trained by Roussel.
This popular son of Secretariat raced very wide into the stretch and finished third to Winning Colors, beaten 3 ¼ lengths.
Prior to the Derby he won the Louisiana Derby Trial, the Louisiana Derby, and Lexington.
Risen Star won the Preakness by a length and a quarter over Brian’s Time, with Winning Colors finishing third.
He won the Belmont Stakes by nearly 15 lengths in his final career start.
HANSEL (1991)
Owned by Lazy Lane Farms and trained by Frank Brothers, he was the 5-to-2 favorite in the Derby off impressive victories in the Jim Beam and Lexington stakes.
He was inexplicably dull, finishing 10th to Strike the Gold, beaten nearly 11 lengths.
Hansel rebounded in the Preakness, winning by 7 lengths over Corporate Report, with Strike the Gold checking in sixth.
He captured the Belmont Stakes by a head over Strike the Gold, which sealed his championship that year.
LOOKIN AT LUCKY (2010)
Owned by Watson, Pegram and Weitman, and trained by Bob Baffert, the son of top sire Smart Strike was the reigning 2-year- old champion and the tepid favorite at 6-to-1 in the Derby field of 20.
He finished sixth, beaten 7 lengths, by Super Saver.
Lookin at Lucky started only twice before the Derby, winning the Rebel Stakes and finishing third in the Santa Anita Derby.
In the Preakness, he scored by three- quarters of a length over First Dude, with Super Saver finishing eighth.
Lookin at Lucky won the Haskell Invitational and Indiana Derby after the Preakness to repeat as champion.
Lookin at Lucky started only twice before the Derby, winning the Rebel Stakes and finishing third in the Santa Anita Derby.