Rarely does a “pioneering” event occur in a competition dating back to 1873, yet the 151st running of the Preakness Stakes carved out its unique place in history as the initial installment of the contest ever staged at Laurel Park, situated approximately 20 miles south of where the $2 million race typically unfolds at Pimlico Race Course.
Pimlico is presently undergoing extensive reconstruction, a development long anticipated as the main stands had fallen into significant disrepair. For horse racing in Maryland, the expectation is that this period of waiting will culminate in a revitalization of the renowned middle leg of the Triple Crown. Indeed, stakeholders are surely hoping for a similar reward for their patience as that experienced by the team behind Napoleon Solo, who, following a challenging winter, achieved redemption by establishing himself as a top 3-year-old this season with an undeniable 1 1/4-length Preakness victory against Iron Honor on May 16 at Laurel.
Even though he was the sole Grade 1 victor among the 14 competitors, numerous uncertainties lingered regarding the progeny of Liam’s Map after he began his second racing season with back-to-back fifth-place showings. Nevertheless, trainer Chad Summers and owner Al Gold maintained unwavering belief in Napoleon Solo.
“I communicated to many that I anticipated this would be the finest exhibition of his racing career,” Summers remarked.
Last autumn, the team opted not to send the colt to California for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile after Napoleon Solo’s commanding 6 1/2-length win in the Grade 1 Champagne Stakes at Aqueduct. This choice was solely aimed at ensuring the colt’s entry into the Kentucky Derby starting lineup; however, multiple challenges subsequently arose.
In his inaugural 3-year-old start, Napoleon Solo placed fifth in the Grade 2 Coolmore Fountain of Youth Stakes. The colt’s conditioning subsequently improved, but a heel contusion then compelled them to run Napoleon Solo in the Grade 2 Wood Memorial presented by Resorts World Casino with insufficient preparation, lacking a workout for more than two weeks.
“Absolutely nothing unfolded smoothly at the commencement of his 3-year-old season. We began at a distinct disadvantage,” Summers commented.
As it transpired, Napoleon Solo would have nonetheless qualified for the Kentucky Derby by being drawn from the also-eligible roster. Nevertheless, rather than awaiting confirmation of their inclusion, and following what Summers described as hundreds of thousands of phone calls, he and Gold redirected their focus toward the Preakness.
“I continue to harbor a sense of astonishment,” Summers expressed regarding the triumph that vindicated his perseverance. “I simply feel immense pride in the equine athlete. I sensed the horse merited this success. I felt I had failed the horse with his pair of fifth-place finishes in his initial two outings (this year). I felt I disappointed Gold Square in our endeavor to reach the Derby. Consequently, it represents a fortunate sign to return here, and securing this win is truly the crowning achievement.”
Over the past six years, Summers and Gold have collaborated on acquiring racehorses. Among their most significant achievements was the two-time Grade 1 champion, Cyberknife, under the training of Brad Cox. Gold mentioned that he frequently challenges Summers, as he does with all his trainers, but ultimately, the pair share a strong bond.
“I converse with him half a dozen, perhaps seven times daily,” Gold stated. “We share ownership of numerous horses, and I am exceptionally thankful for his efforts. An outstanding job in preparing all these thoroughbreds, particularly this one.”
Gold additionally lauded jockey Paco Lopez, whom he recognized for advocating for the horse’s entry in the Preakness subsequent to the Wood Memorial. The sole concern revolved around the horse’s ability to manage the extended distance. Considerable discussion also centered on the abundance of early pace setters participating in the contest.
“We noted the presence of substantial early pace in the race, yet the sectional times they were clocking weren’t genuinely indicative of blistering speed,” Summers explained. “We believed his primary strength was his sustained cruising pace. Our hope was simply that another competitor would provide a moderate pace to follow.”
The strategy unfolded flawlessly as Lopez found his desired pace-setter in the favored Taj Mahal, who broke quickly from the innermost post position. Napoleon Solo shadowed the pace, recording splits of :22.66, :46.66, and 1:12.08, prior to asserting command on the final bend.
From that point, Lopez glanced repeatedly behind him for challengers, demonstrating his assurance as he maintained his powerful drive down the stretch. Iron Honor would break free from the middle of the field to launch an attack but could not close the gap sufficiently to pose a threat, as Napoleon Solo completed the race in 1:58.69.
Chip Honcho, positioned fourth along the backstretch, persevered to secure third place. Kentucky Derby late runners Ocelli and Incredibolt claimed fourth and fifth spots, in that order. Taj Mahal ultimately dropped back to 10th.
This triumph represented a maiden win in both the Preakness and the Triple Crown series for Lopez, Summers, and Gold.
The atmosphere at the Preakness held at Laurel was undeniably distinct from a typical year at Pimlico, owing to the restricted attendance figure of 4,800 spectators. Nevertheless, the gathering remained audibly enthusiastic and lively throughout the event, particularly near the track’s edge as the Preakness contenders rounded the final turn toward the finish.
To a certain extent, this Preakness seemed like both a celebratory occasion and a final performance for Laurel, given its solitary opportunity to host the state’s premier race before its planned shutdown, when Pimlico is set to take over year-round Maryland racing operations upon the conclusion of its renovation.
Napoleon Solo is now destined to be the subject of a fascinating trivia query. He will stand as the ultimate thoroughbred to claim a Grade 1 victory at both Laurel and Aqueduct, with the latter poised to conduct its final race on June 28. Similar to Maryland, New York’s racing circuit will consolidate its operations into a newly refurbished Belmont Park, serving as the year-round hub for racing (excluding summer events at Saratoga Race Course).
“We will cherish this experience and retain it in our memories indefinitely,” Summers declared. “I felt Laurel delivered an excellent spectacle this week.”
There are no immediate plans for Napoleon Solo to compete in the Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets at Saratoga on June 6. Being a New Jersey native, Gold holds the July 18 Grade 1 Haskell Stakes at Monmouth Park in high regard, a race he triumphed in with Cyberknife in 2022. Summers indicated that this will be Napoleon Solo’s subsequent significant objective.
“The specifics of our journey there remain a topic for discussion,” Summers stated. “We will monitor his recovery from this race, but our primary immediate aim is the Haskell.”
The victor of the Kentucky Derby, Golden Tempo, is slated to run in the Belmont after his owners decided against contending for the Triple Crown in the Preakness. Given Napoleon Solo’s decision to bypass the Belmont, this will be the inaugural instance since 2023 where the respective winners of the Derby and Preakness will not face each other in the concluding segment of the Triple Crown.
“I eagerly anticipate observing how the remainder of the year unfolds. I believe it’s a highly competitive field for the title of champion 3-year-old,” Summers remarked. “I intend to detract nothing from the impressive performance Golden Tempo delivered in the Derby. We hoped he would be present at the Preakness. We were actively supporting them when they were contemplating participation. Regrettably, they did not arrive here. That is acceptable. Hopefully, we will encounter him at some point in the future.”
