Saturday, May 19, 2012

I'll Have Another wins Preakness

I'll Have Another (9), ridden by Mario Gutierrez, beats Bodemeister, ridden by Mike Smith, to the finish line to win the 137th Preakness Stakes horse race at Pimlico Race Course, Saturday, May 19, 2012, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

(AP) BALTIMORE - I'll Have Another overtook Bodemeister down the straight to win the Preakness Stakes and keep alive his hopes of winning the U.S. Triple Crown.

In a race that was a virtual repeat of the Kentucky Derby, I'll Have Another raced from behind on Saturday to beat pace-setter Bodemeister, who also finished second in the Derby.

I'll Have Another now has a chance to become the first Triple Crown winner since Affirmed in 1978. The Belmont Stakes, the last of the Triple Crown races, is on June 9.

Trainer Doug O'Neill won his first Kentucky Derby two weeks ago, and this win was his first in the Preakness.

I'll Have Another covered the 1 3/16 miles (1,900 meters) in 1:55.94.

The winner, second-favorite behind Bodemeister, paid $8.40, $3.80 and $2.80. Bodemeister returned $3.20 and $2.80, and Creative Cause paid $3.60 to show.