Mike Stewart/Associated PressShackleford, right, ridden by Jesus Castanon, won the 136th running of the Preakness Stakes on Saturday. Animal Kingdom finished second.Shackleford, who appeared agitated before the race, collected himself to edge the Derby winner Animal Kingdom by three-quarters of a length, winning the Preakness Stakes on Saturday at Pimlico Race Course. Astrology finished third.
It is the first triple crown victory and first Preakness start for the jockey Jesus Castanon, who has been aboard Shackleford in all five of his starts this year. Shackleford paid $27.20 on a $2 bet to win.
“He gave me his best,” Castanon said. “I just tried to keep him away from other horses and all the noise.”
John Velazquez, Animal Kingdom’s rider, said he broke so far back that he was bothered by the dirt. Velazquez, who went through five pairs of goggles during the race, said he thought Animal Kingdom still had a shot at the quarter pole.
“We worked our way through, but it was a little too much to make up,” he said.
Graham Motion, Animal Kingdom’s trainer, said “he ran a huge race” but it hurt them that they “slowed the pace down in the middle of the race.”