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Swiss Skydiver edged Authentic by a neck Saturday to capture the Preakness Stakes, edging out the Kentucky Derby winner at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Md.
Jockey Robby Albarado guided Swiss Skydiver to the inside of leader and favored Authentic entering the far turn and the two horses headed into the stretch battling for the lead. The leaders fought nose to nose the rest of the way, with the filly prevailing at the wire.
The victory with the 11-1 shot gave trainer Ken McPeek his first Preakness Stakes victory, as Swiss Skydiver became only the sixth filly to win the Preakness Stakes in its 145-race history.
Swiss Skydiver ran the 1 3/6 miles in 1:53.28 — the second-fastest Preakness ever, according to track announcer Dave Rodman — and paid $25.40 to win. The Bob Baffert-trained Authentic, which went off as a 3-2 favorite, finished second, with longshot Jesus’ Team third.
Swiss Skydiver became the first filly since Rachel Alexandra in 2009 to win what normally is the second jewel of the Triple Crown. The COVID-19 pandemic forced a rescheduling of this year’s three races, with the Preakness concluding the 2020 Triple Crown.
Swiss Skydiver, owned by Peter Callahan, also earned automatic entry into the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Keeneland in Lexington, Ky. on Nov. 7.
Belmont Stakes winner Tiz the Law, who finished second in the Kentucky Derby after a thrilling stretch battle with Authentic, did not run in the Preakness, but has entered the Breeders’ Cup Classic.
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