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The 'Other' Incredible Win on Preakness Saturday

Sir Ray takes the scenic route to win Calder's feature Winning trainer, "In 20 years training, I've never seen anything like that." 5/25/05

America held its collective breath and then said "wow!" after Afleet Alex had his near-miss at the top of the stretch at Pimlico and then went on to a convincing win in the Preakness. But just about two hours earlier, and 1000 miles to the south, another mind-boggling equine performance played out at Calder.

Appropriately it was the feature race -- named in honor of the Preakness -- the Maryland My Maryland Stakes. It was the ninth race this past Saturday at Calder.

Take a look:

Calder 9th, 5/21/05, stretch, first time

As the horses went by the grandstand for the first time in this mile and three-sixteenth event, 2-1 favorite Sir Ray (arrow) moved to the front and seemed to be going well. By the time they passed the finish line for the first time Sir Ray had successfully moved to the rail and still was traveling well.

By the time the field started into the first turn Sir Ray was beginning to bolt to the outside -- and within a few strides was well outside and still heading for the outer rail.

Calder 9th, 5/21/05, first turn backstretch

As the field entered the backstretch Sir Ray continued to race -- but along the outside fence, and at the back of the pack.

Amazingly, entering the far turn Sir Ray started to move back towards the inner rail, re-engaged the field and moved by the pack, taking the lead at the head of the stretch and going on to win by over two lengths.

The chart of the race describes it like this: "SIR RAY was showing speed when he bolted on the first turn, continued to bear out nearly reaching the outside fence on the backstretch, was angled back in entering the far turn while moving back into contention, rallied to catch PERSPICACIOUS leaving the far turn, then drew clear while racing an erratic course under pressure."

Jockey Manuel Cruz, "The outrider was going to try and pick me up on the backside, but I felt like we were still in the race. Even when we were going around the first turn on the outside fence, I was confident that I could get back in the race." (Click here for post-race quotes from both trainer and jockey.)

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