Swiss Skydiver wins the Preakness 2020

 

The filly Swiss Skydiver, ridden by veteran American rider Robby Albarado, won this Saturday the 145th edition of the Preakness Stakes horse race, the last of the Triple Corona, which had to alter the order of the competition due to the coronavirus pandemic.

 

Swiss Skydiver became the sixth mare to win in the history of the race.

 

The new champion of the event, who won a million dollars in prize money, surpassed the Authentic colt at the finish line, ridden by veteran Puerto Rican jockey John Velázquez, who had been the winner of the Kentucky Derby.

 

Swiss Skydiver, with a great Albarado ride, resisted Authentic in a final full of emotion and suspense and that had to be defined by the photo before the winner could be known.

 

Albarado, 47, who came into the race as a replacement rider, not scheduled to ride the winning filly, got his first big win after four years of being away from the elite due to injuries.

 

His triumph this year is the second he has achieved at the Preakness after he had already won the race in 2007 with the horse Curlin, in addition to winning the Dubai World Cup (2008) and the Breeders Cup Classic.

 

But then he has not lived his best moments after he suffered two skull fractures, one in 2008 and another the following year. He has had a number of other serious injuries from which he has recovered and had not won a major race so far this year.

 

In 2019, his best result was a Grade 3 victory. The last time he won a senior race three years ago.

 

"Robby (Albarado) has been a jockey who has raced for me," stated Kenny McPeek, who coaches Swiss Skydiver and chose Albarado to replace Tyler Gaffalione (at Keeneland). "I think he's in a great moment right now, he showed how to ride in moments of pressure and he was the one who won this race."

 

Swiss Skydiver became the first mare since Hall of Fame member Rachel Alexandra to win the Preakness (2009), and the first to run since Ria Antonia in 2014.

 

He also becomes the third different horse to win each of this year's Triple Crown races.

 

Starting from No. 4, the top contender took the lead down the stretch Saturday at Pimlico Racecourse in Baltimore, with no crowd in the stands, and crossed the finish line by a neck ahead of Authentic, who was second, followed by Jesus' Team, and Art Collector ranked fourth.

 

Owned by Peter Callahan, Swiss Skydiver started with odds of 11-1 and paid 25.40 to win; 8.40 to wear and 5.80 to show off.

 

She previously won the G1 Alabama and was a surprising second at Kentucky Oaks a month ago behind surprising winner Shedaresthedevil.

 

While Belmont winner Tiz the Law did not participate in the race.

 

Traditionally the middle jewel of the American Triple Crown that takes place after the Kentucky Derby and before the Belmont Stakes, this year the Preakness Stakes was held the last for the first time in its history when it was always held in the month of May. .

 

But, like all sporting events this year, the coronavirus pandemic altered the equestrian calendar in the United States. The Belmont Stakes led the Triple Crown in June, followed by the Kentucky Derby in September.

 

"While we looked forward to welcoming fans as we have for the past 145 years, the health and safety of our guests, riders, team members and the wider community is, and always will be, our top priority," Belinda Stronach stated in a statement.

 

Stronach is the president of The Stronach Group, which is the joint owner of the race along with the Maryland Jockey Club.

 

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