We’re just over two weeks out before the 154th running of Triple Crown’s third leg. Belmont Stakes will take place on June 11, 2022, at the same historic place, Belmont Park in Elmont, New York.
The Preakness Stakes was run without the Kentucky Derby-winning horse Rich Strike. Rick Dawson, Rich Strike’s owner, felt the colt needed a break after his 80-1 upset win. But it seems like Rich Strike is not the only one who’ll take a breather.
Early Voting won the Preakness Stakes
Early Voting notched his so far most significant victory in his entire career at the legendary Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore last May 21, 2022. It was the first Preakness win for his jockey José Ortiz, while it was the second for his owner Seth Klarman and trainer Chad Brown in five years.
Early Voting put on a strong finish despite being the third choice in the wagering, with the odds of 5-1, and paid $13 to win. He successfully completed the 1 3/16 miles in exactly 1:54.54, after passing through Preakness runner-ups Epicenter and Creative Minister down the stretch.
Brown sang praises for the Preakness winner in an interview after their win. He said, despite running only four times, Early Voting was able to do everything they expected him to do and was a real fighter in the stretch this year.
According to Brown, Early Voting successfully broke well from the gate, made his own trips, and carried his speed a route of ground. In addition, he was brilliant and cooperative. Brown concluded that he was very proud of Early Voting and his team.
But Early Voting Isn’t Racing in Belmont
One day after winning Preakness, Early Voting’s team made a bold decision to have him sit out of the Belmont Stakes this June 11. Klarman thought that extra rest would help Early Voting again.
In preparation for the Preakness, they withheld Early Voting from the Derby too. They said they wanted to do what was right by the horse. And as it turned out, it seems like holding off was the right call, leading Early Voting to his win in Baltimore this year.
What’s more, Early Voting is lightly raced. As mentioned, the Preakness this year was just his fourth race. Ortiz added that Early Voting was not seasoned enough yet. However, he and the others knew that Early Voting was a late bloomer from the very start.
Brown and Klarman actually did the same in 2017 too. They had the promising, stakes-tested, lightly raced colt Cold Computing skip the Kentucky Derby to focus on 2017’s Preakness. He was the one who gave Brown and Klarman their first victory in a Triple Crown series race.
Brown was evasive for Early Voting’s next race. But they’re eyeing Haskell Invitational on July 23 or the Jim Dandy Stakes on July 30. They said they’ll pick a race after evaluating. One thing is for sure, though. They’re certainly going to set Early Voting up nicely for what lies ahead.
Favorite Epicenter Gets a Break Too
The Kentucky Derby runner-up Epicenter is the 6-5 morning-line favorite in the Preakness Stakes. However, bettors have to scratch him out from their belmont stakes betting odds list. Epicenter’s trainer Steve Asmussen said that colt would not run in Belmont this year.
In the Kentucky Derby, Epicenter lost down the stretch when 80-1 longshot Rich Strike made a desperate, frantic late-race dash. Unfortunately, he couldn’t chase down Early Voting in the Preakness Stakes, too, and just came second.
Epicenter’s owner Ron Winchell reasoned that the colt needed a rest. He explained that colt’s three-quarters of a length loss to 80-1 longshot Rich Strike made him a little flat in the Preakness. The two-week turnaround from the Kentucky Derby to Preakness Stakes indeed didn’t work in Epicenter’s favor last May 21.
Winchell believed that the recipe at the moment was for Epicenter to come back fresh. So from Risen Star on February 19 to the Louisiana Derby on March 26, Epicenter had around five weeks. And then, between the Louisiana Derby and the Kentucky Derby, the colt had around six weeks. According to Winchell, these 5-6 weeks turnaround did Epicenter well.
Alternatively, Winchell said they’re keeping a weather eye on races that can be Epicenter’s next targets. He mentioned that Monmouth Park’s Haskell on July 23, Saratoga’s Travers on August 27, and Breeders’ Cup Classic on November 4 & 5 would probably be his team’s long-term goals.
Final Thoughts
It’s impossible to have a Triple Crown winner this year, 2022. Preakness Stakes’ recent victor Early Voting will take some time off. Additionally, Kentucky Derby winner Rich Strike missed this year’s Preakness Stakes. That confirmed that only thirteen horses had been crowned as Triple Crown Winners so far, and the last one was Justified in 2018.
