Seize The Grey Triumphs in 149th Preakness Stakes, Upending Kentucky Derby Winner

Seize The Grey, a 9-1 long shot, captured the 149th Preakness Stakes on Saturday, dismantling the hopes of Kentucky Derby victor Mystik Dan and etching its name in the annals of racing history.

Saturday's 149th Preakness Stakes witnessed an unexpected triumph as Seize The Grey, a horse with 9-1 odds, surged to victory, dethroning Kentucky Derby champion Mystik Dan. The race, held at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland, was a riveting spectacle that unfolded before a captivated audience.

From the outset, Seize The Grey, ridden by jockey Jaime Torres, asserted its dominance, leading the pack by several lengths at the ¾-mile mark. Its closest pursuer, Imagination, trailed in a distant second place. As the race progressed, Mystik Dan and Imagination gradually closed the gap, but Seize The Grey held firm, its lead unwavering.

In a thrilling climax, Mystik Dan attempted a desperate maneuver to overtake the leader, but Seize The Grey proved unyielding. With relentless determination, it crossed the finish line first, securing the coveted Preakness Stakes trophy.

The victory marked a historic milestone for 88-year-old trainer D. Wayne Lukas, who became the oldest trainer to ever win the Preakness. This was his seventh victory in the race, just one shy of Bob Baffert's record.

Adding to the drama of the race was the absence of the original favorite, Muth, trained by the controversial Baffert. Muth was scratched earlier in the week due to a fever, leaving the door open for Mystik Dan to assume the favorite's role. However, his quest to become the first Triple Crown winner since Justify in 2018 was ultimately dashed by the surging Seize The Grey.

The Preakness Stakes is the second leg of horse racing's prestigious Triple Crown, following the Kentucky Derby and preceding the Belmont Stakes. No one in the race's 149-year history has saddled more horses in the Preakness than Lukas, who has participated in an impressive 48 races since his debut in 1980.

In a moment of triumph, Torres celebrated the victory aboard Seize The Grey, while Lukas basked in the glow of his seventh Preakness win. The final leg of the Triple Crown, the Belmont Stakes, will take place at Saratoga Race Course on June 8, setting the stage for another exhilarating chapter in horse racing history.

The Preakness Stakes offered a captivating display of skill, strategy, and determination. Seize The Grey's unexpected triumph served as a testament to the unpredictable nature of the sport, while Lukas's historic achievement cemented his legacy as one of racing's greatest trainers.

As the dust settles on another thrilling running of the Preakness Stakes, all eyes now turn to the Belmont Stakes, where the Triple Crown dream will be put to the ultimate test.