Latino Jockey Leads Shackelford to Victory

In Saturday’s one-hundred-thirty-sixth running of the Preakness Stakes, the middle jewel of the Triple Crown, jockey Jesus Castañon led Shackelford to victory. In doing so, he beat the Kentucky Derby winner, Animal Kingdom, ridden by John Velasquez.

“Its amazing,” said Castañon, 38. “He was a little hot in the beginning before in the post parade, but he was able to calm down. He’s a good horse and able to handle it. A horse like this can go any kind of speed. I felt somebody coming at the sixteenth-pole, I knew that Animal Kingdom was the only horse who was able to come get me.”

Horseracing may be for Latino athletes, what the NBA has been for African Americans. Eleven of the 14 horses that ran in the Preakness were ridden by Latino jockeys.

Castañon dedicated the race to his mother in Mexico, and with tears in his eyes and pointing up to the sky, referred to his late father, saying: “I know he was watching me today.”

The much-heralded Triple Crown in horseracing that begins with the Kentucky Derby, continues with the Preakness Stakes, and ends with the Belmont Stakes, challenges a horse to win three races within five weeks. The last to do so was Affirmed in 1978. Two weeks ago, Animal Kingdom shocked race fans winning the Kentucky Derby with 20–1 odds. Known for his late kick, Animal Kingdom came from behind in the Kentucky Derby and appeared to be following the same strategy in Baltimore. Providing a thrilling drive from second-to-last to second place, Animal Kingdom looked to repeat but just ran out of track, losing to Shackelford by a half-length.

“We were just too far back,” commented Velasquez. “When I wanted him to go, he got dirt kicked in his face. So then I had to pull him farther back than I wanted him to be. By the time I had the chance to go, he was coming, but it was too late. He came out of the race great. Unfortunately this is part of the business.”

Trained by Dale Romans, Shackleford took down the $600,000 winner’s purse, as well a bonus of $550,000, courtesy of the Preakness 5.5, an incentive program inaugurated this year. Fourth in the Kentucky Derby just two weeks ago after setting a moderate pace, the 12-1 long shot improved enough off that effort to claim victory under Castanon in the Preakness and dash Animal Kingdom’s Triple Crown hopes.

The complete order of finish was: Shackleford, Animal Kingdom, Astrology, Dialed In, Dance City, Mucho Macho Man, King Congie, Mr. Commons, Isn’t He Perfect, Concealed Identity, Norman Asbjornson, Sway Away, Midnight Interlude and Flashpoint.

The Belmont Stakes takes place in three weeks on June 11.