Medina Spirit will be in front approaching the finish line of the Preakness Stakes. He has never been passed in the stretch throughout his six-race career.
But there's a shadow on his shoulder. Midnight Bourbon will be charging hard at the Kentucky Derby winner. Maybe no longer using a banned anti-inflammatory will leave Medina Spirit short. After all, he won't be the Derby winner much longer with the Kentucky Racing Commission ready to disqualify the colt after trainer Bob Baffert's admission of the illegal substance use.
Medina Spirit doesn't know anything of sanctions and substances, though. His head is clear of controversy. Medina Spirit is just one gritty runner who refuses to yield.
And yet, Midnight Bourbon will win the photo finish. His sixth-place Derby finish came after being knocked hard coming out of the starting gate. The colt lost his footing for a stride or two, akin to a sprinter stumbling out of the blocks. He was left with no chance, yet showed his grit by passing five horses in the lane.
It's not so much revenge as redemption for Midnight Bourbon. A chance to show when given an even chance he can best Medina Spirit.
Maybe Baffert is outsmarting himself by entering Concert Tour along with Medina Spirit. Concert Tour likes to run early, but his outside No. 10 post will force a faster opening quarter mile to reach the lead. It will create an opportunity for Midnight Bourbon to stalk Medina Spirit until entering the stretch.
And when the Derby winner maybe tires or he doesn't feel right without that medicine, running too hard with Concert Tour early will feel like sparks in Medina Spirit's legs. The eye of the tiger — well, horse — will be distracted momentarily by those sparks and suddenly Midnight Bourbon will press his nose first against the wire.
It should be an epic race and another Derby winner seeing his Triple Crown hopes vanish in the final Preakness run over this track. Next year, the surface will be tilted 30 degrees to make way for a new Pimlico clubhouse. The finish line of past champions will be moved halfway down the block on the left. Secretariat, Seabiscuit, Seattle Slew and other greats will see their final strides left to history.
Only Medina Spirit has a chance to join the immortals if only for a little while before judges in a distant state alter his status. But, everyone knows the son of Protonico, a stallion so obscure its stud fee is a token $5,000, really was the best on the first Saturday in May. He just won't be so on the month's third Saturday.
Bet a 5-3 exacta with long shot Unbridled Honor third and Concert Tour fourth. Maybe a $1 wager of 5-3-8-10 will pay for a night of drinks and an Uber ride home. This race is more for watching than betting because nobody's wasting a win wager on anyone other than Medina Spirit and Midnight Bourbon.
Bettors are paying to see something special. And, they're going to see a fight in the lane.
Rick Snider has covered Washington sports since 1978. Follow him on Twitter: @Snide_Remarks.
Related
