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Lookin At Lucky, left, with Martin Garcia aboard, works to overcome First Dude, ridden by Ramon Dominguez, during the 135th Preakness at Pimlico Race Course Saturday in Baltimore.
AP photo
BALTIMORE — First Dude looked pretty cool as the second-place finisher in the Preakness.
A 20-1 long shot in the morning line, First Dude led the pack heading into the stretch before falling behind the winner, Lookin At Lucky.
Instead of being disappointed, trainer Dale Romans was proud.
“First Dude is a serious, confident, aggressive horse who can compete with the best,” Romans said. “He ran super.”
Ramon Dominguez gave it a shot, but fell short of delivering First Dude’s second career win in seven races.
“He broke right where we wanted him. He ran really well,” Dominguez said. “He just couldn’t quite get there, but we got close.”
Said Romans: “Ramon said he didn’t want to give up the lead. He kept his path. He just couldn’t hold off the winner.”
So, might Romans and Ramon team up again in the Belmont?
Maybe.
“I’ll talk to the owner and we’ll discuss whether to go a mile-and-a-half,” Romans said.
PADDY FALLS FLAT: Romans wasn’t nearly as satisfied with his other entry in the Preakness, sixth-place finisher Paddy O’Prado.
The great grandson of Northern Dancer ran an uninspired race, finishing out of the money for the first time in five races this year. This, after finishing third in the Kentucky Derby.
Romans would not commit to any race, including the Belmont, until hearing from jockey Kent Desormeaux.
“Paddy has a big future and we’ll figure out what to do,” Romans said. “He had good works this week here at Pimlico. Maybe he just didn’t get a hold of the track.”
Desormeaux has two Preakness crowns to his credit and for a moment thought he was going to get a third.
“The horse felt good, but he was just flat,” Desormeaux said. “He just wasn’t himself today.”
HATS OFF TO LUKAS: Nine hours before post time in the Preakness, Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas was sitting alone in front of his stall at the Pimlico Stakes Barn.
Wearing a baseball cap.
Lukas’ trademark cowboy hat was notably absent this week, mainly because the weather in Baltimore was either windy, rainy or both.
“Today I should have it on, but I’ve always said a cowboy hat is overrated if it’s raining or it’s windy,” Lukas said.
Lukas entered two horses in the Preakness, an event he won five times previously. Dublin stumbled at the start and finished fifth, and Northern Giant came in dead last.
But at least Lukas had an enjoyable week leading up to the event.
“Of the Triple Crown races, I like this one the best. It seems like there’s a little bit less tension,” Lukas said. “Everyone’s not quite so competitive. My fellow trainers and colleagues, we all kid and hang out together a little bit. A lot of it might because we’re all in one barn, whereas at Churchill we’re all scattered and don’t see each other.
“It’s a fun, fun week and now we have a beautiful day, so it’s going to cap it off great.”
Lukas spent a lot of time with trainer Bob Baffert, who saddled up winner Lookin At Lucky.
“The media over the years has portrayed Bob and I as bitter rivals, or competitive rivals, you might say,” Lukas said. “But we have really been friends for a long time. During Derby week we went to dinner a couple nights. He was there and I live there in Louisville. He was out to the house. Here we go to dinner during Preakness week, so it’s a lot different than people think.
“Of course, we try to help you guys in the media by taking a couple shots at each other, stir it up a little bit. But behind the scenes we’re pretty good,” Lukas said. “Actually we take pretty good shots at each other when it’s 1-on-1.”
Lukas comes to Baltimore for the race, but while he’s in town he makes sure to indulge in the city’s most famous dish.
“Best crab cakes in the world,” he said. “Everyplace else they make them with cereal. Here, they’re pure crabs.”
BACK IN THE SADDLE: One day after taking a nasty spill on the track, jockey Julien Leparoux was back in the saddle again.
Leparoux was tossed from Diva Delite during the Black-Eyed Susan Stakes on Friday evening. He chipped a tooth and was left sore and bruised, but left the hospital with no broken bones and his spirit intact.
Leparoux rode Kurbat in the first race at Pimlico on Saturday and finished second. He also planned to ride Pleasant Prince in the Preakness.