2009 Preakness Stakes
The 2009 Preakness Stakes was the 134th running the historic race. Rachel Alexandra, a filly, took first place on May 16, 2009, at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland.
From Mine That Bird, favorite Rachel Alexandra, winner of the Kentucky Derby two weeks earlier, had to hold off a late charge. As the favorite, to win the Preakness, she became the first filly.
From a $1.1 million purse, Rachel Alexandra earned a first prize of $660,000.
For Asmussen, Winning with a filly was sweet, as his Curlin finished second to a filly the last time a filly won a Triple Crown Race (Rags to Riches, 2007 Belmont Stakes).
Calvin Borel, who rode Kentucky Derby-winner Mine That Bird two weeks earlier, rode Rachel Alexandra. To win the first two legs of the Triple Crown on two different horses, Borel became the first jockey. At the Preakness, it was Borel’s first win.
Borel rode 50-1 long shot Mine That Bird to victory at the Kentucky Derby on May 2, 2009, a day after winning the Kentucky Oaks abroad Rachel Alexandra. To win the Derby-Oaks combo in the same year, he became the seventh jockey. To participate in and win the Preakness, Rachel Alexandra became the first Kentucky Oaks winner.
In the race, Mine That Bird started slowly. Extending the Triple Crown drought to 31 years, His second place finish put an end to any chance of a Triple Crown.
In the race there was a participation of 12 colts and 1 filly. The favorites were Rachel Alexandra (8-5), Pioneer of the Nile (5-1), Friesan Fire (6-1), and Mine That Bird (6-1). The four favorites were given post positions of 13, 9, 5, and 2 respectively. To win the race from the 13th post position, Rachel Alexandra became the first horse.
Mine That Bird and Rachel Alexandra had strong finishes although the same can’t be said for the other two favorites. Pioneer of the Nile, trained by Bob Baffert, finished 11th and Friesan Fire, trained by J. Larry Jones, finished 10th. In third place again was Musket Man, third in the Kentucky Derby, finishing a half-length behind Mine That Bird.
Since 1990, its Nielsen rating was the second best. By more than 35,000, attendance at the event plummeted.
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