Chasing Liberty covered up by Outlaw Kid gets the nose down on the wire, TMJC Photo
Preakness 151 Press Release
LAUREL, MD – Twin Creeks Racing Stables and CMNWLTH’s Chasing Liberty, narrowly beaten in his season opener last month, avenged that loss in dramatic fashion with a hard-fought nose decision over Outlaw Kid in Saturday’s $125,000 Jim McKay Turf Sprint presented by Bulleit Bourbon at Laurel Park.
The 21st running of the McKay, a five-furlong dash for 3-year-olds and up, was the eighth of nine stakes, four graded, worth $3.15 million in purses on a blockbuster 14-race program, immediately preceding the 151st Preakness Stakes (G1), Middle Jewel of the Triple Crown.
Trained by Rob Atras, 4-year-old Chasing Liberty ($9.20) crossed the wire in 1:01.37 over a firm Dahlia turf course to give jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. his second career McKay victory following Imprimis in 2018 for trainer Joe Orseno.
It was even-money favorite Jean Valjean that broke running and quickly established himself up front, going the first of a quarter-mile in 22.10 seconds. Fore Harp, sent off at 25-1, pressed the leader on the outside with Determined Kingdom third and Had to Have Him given clear run in fourth.
The half went in 44.37 seconds as Determined Kingdom, Jean Valjean and Fore Harp raced three across track after straightening for home. Ortiz maintained his patient ground-saving trip and was rewarded with a small seam nearing the eighth pole, sending Chasing Liberty through as Outlaw Kid took to the far outside. The two met at the sixteenth pole and dueled side-by-side to the wire with Chasing Liberty getting his nose down first.
Outlaw Kid, who edged Chasing Liberty by a neck in the 5 ½-furlong King T. Leatherbury April 18 at Laurel, was two lengths in front of 23-1 Card Trick in third followed by Run Curtis Run, Jean Valjean, Determined Kingdom, Fore Harp, Tidewater, Had to Have Him and Incinerator. Isivunguvungu was scratched.
Chasing Liberty improved his record to 5-2-2 from 12 starts, earning his third stakes victory and first since the Texas Turf Mile in January 2025 at Sam Houston. He had gone winless in six subsequent starts, placing in four stakes and running fifth by 2 ½ lengths in the Franklin-Simpson (G1) last fall at Kentucky Downs.
The Jim McKay Turf Sprint honors the late Hall of Fame broadcaster and Philadelphia native who considered Baltimore his home. McKay hosted ABC’s ‘Wide World of Sports’ in 1961 and then won wide acclaim as voice of the Olympics, winning 13 Emmy Awards and the Eclipse Award of Merit. He was instrumental in conceiving and launching the groundbreaking Maryland Million in 1986. He passed away in 2008 at 86.
$125,000 Jim McKay Turf Sprint Quotes
Winning Trainer Rob Atras (Chasing Liberty): “When I saw the 8 [Outlaw Kid] coming from the outside, I was like ‘Here we go again.’ Down the lane, he was so determined to keep in front. I was thrilled for him today. Really a great ride by Irad [Ortiz Jr.], too.
“This horse has been everywhere. He has been on the road a lot. We are always trying to find the best spots for him. We just want to try to find the spots where he will be most competitive, that’s all. Even when he has run fourth or fifth, it wasn’t because of him. He always runs a big race. He always runs hard. He is a dream horse to have. He shows up every single time.”
“We will have him nominated to a few different spots. Maybe Saratoga, maybe a couple other spots. Nothing in mind yet. I really wanted to see this effort today and show he belonged with these guys. I think he did it last time, but we were really looking for, hopefully, a win today. It really worked out. We will get him back to New York tonight and look it over with [owners)]Randy [Gullatt] and Steve [Davison] and see what we want to do.”
Winning Jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. (Chasing Liberty): “I broke good. I feel like there was not too much pace in the race. We were able to be able to be in contact with the field, maybe five or six lengths. And I just bided my time. I had great position going to the turn. I was saving ground and I could see everything happening right in front of me. I asked my horse and he gave me a good turn of foot.”
