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The 2020 Triple Crown season has finally come to a close with the Preakness ending what has been one of the most unique years in horse racing history. Swiss Skydiver pulled off a dramatic upset over Authentic in a photo finish to conclude a wild Triple Crown schedule. It was a filly that topped all the horses at the Preakness for the first time in more than a decade, per NBC Sports.
“She continues to get stronger. …She never gets tired. If anything, she makes me tired dragging me around the barn every day,” trainer Ken McPeek said after the race when describing his decision to run a filly at the Preakness.
Jesus’ Team finished a distant third followed by Art Collector. Swiss Skydiver officially won the race by a “neck” as Authentic made a late charge down the final stretch. The two horses broke away from the field finishing 10 lengths ahead of the other eight participants.
Bob Baffert was looking for his second straight victory with heavy favorite Authentic. The trainer downplayed his historic success crediting the horses he has trained throughout his career
“The reason I’ve won it so many times is I’ve always had the best horse,” Baffert said, per Los Angeles Times. “That’s why I won. I’ve won the Derby with the best horse and I’ve lost the Derby with the best horse. I think about the losses more, the ones that got away from me. The Preaknesses have never gotten away when I’m here with the best horse.”
Baffert came away disappointed after Swiss Skydiver pulled off the victory with 11-to-1 odds. Jesus’ Team notched a surprising third-place finish despite having 40-to-1 odds heading into the marquee race.
It has been far from a normal racing schedule after the Kentucky Derby was the first of the three Triple Crown races to be postponed. This prompted a re-scheduled Belmont rather than the Kentucky Derby to lead off the major race calendar. The races also pushed into the fall rather than their traditional spring and summer dates.
The Preakness Winner Receives Free Entry Into the Breeders’ Cup Challenge
One added benefit of winning this year’s Preakness is for the first time ever the victory comes with an automatic entry into the Breeders’ Cup Challenge on November 7, per NBC Sports. This covers the $150,000 entry fee for Swiss Skydiver along with a $10,000 travel allowance and another $10,000 award to the nominator.
It is not a bad consolation prize for what has been a frustrating Triple Crown schedule given the ongoing pandemic. Here is a look at the Preakness race results and betting payouts.
“We are delighted to join The Stronach Group and the Maryland Jockey Club in welcoming the Preakness to this year’s Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series, and that we will be able to provide the winning connections with an added incentive to run in the Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic,” Breeders’ Cup President Drew Fleming explained in a statement, per The Racing Biz. “As a foundation race of the Triple Crown, and the premier event in the proud history of Maryland racing, we look forward to working together with The Stronach Group, and our partners at NBC Sports, to promote an exciting fall season for Thoroughbred racing.”
Preakness Results 2020
The following data is courtesy of NBC Sports. The number to the right of the horse’s name is its initial post position.
| PLACE | HORSE |
| 1. | Swiss Skydiver (4) |
| 2. | Authentic (9) |
| 3. | Jesus’ Team (6) |
| 4. | Art Collector (3) |
| 5. | Max Player (8) |
| 6. | Excession (1) |
| 7. | Mr. Big News (2) |
| 8. | Thousand Words (5) |
| 9. | NY Traffic (7) |
| 10. | Pneumatic (10) |
| 11. | Liveyourbeastlife (11) |
Preakness Betting Payouts: Win, Place & Show
The following data is courtesy of NBC and is based on a $2 bet. The numbers to the left of the horse are its post position.
| HORSE | WIN | PLACE | SHOW |
| 4 Swiss Skydiver | $25.40 | $8.40 | $5.80 |
| 9 Authentic | $3.60 | $3.20 | |
| 6 Jesus’ Team | $12.20 |
Preakness Betting Payouts: Exacta, Trifecta & Superfecta
| $2 EXACTA | $1 TRIFECTA | $1 SUPERFECTA |
| 4-9 | 4-9-6 | 4-9-6-3 |
| $75.60 | $1,205.70 | $5,053 |
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