BALTIMORE, Md. – Preakness (G1) winner Early Voting was back in his stall at Belmont Park by mid-morning Sunday, some 15 hours after scoring a 1 ¼-length victory over Epicenter, the 6-5 favorite, in Saturday’s Middle Jewel of the Triple Crown.
Trainer Chad Brown traveled from Baltimore to New York overnight and was at Belmont Sunday to oversee what is typically a busy morning of timed workouts for horses in his stable. During a brief break, Brown said that Early Voting, owned by Seth Klarman’s Klaravich Stables came out of the race in good condition.
Brown said Sunday morning that Early Voting will not be pointed toward the June 11 Belmont Stakes, the third jewel of the Triple Crown at Belmont Park. He said he was undecided where and when Early Voting would run next, while still savoring his trainee’s big day at Pimlico.
“We are thrilled with the victory,” Brown said. “I’m proud of the horse. Proud of my team. It was a super memorable day, especially being on Seth Klarman’s birthday in his hometown. Everything lined up. I’m just so appreciative for the day, the performance.”
Brown and Klarman won the Preakness for the second time in five years by using the same formula: skipping the Kentucky Derby (G1) with a promising, stakes-tested but lightly raced colt to focus on the Preakness. In 2017, Cloud Computing gave Brown his first victory in a Triple Crown series race. Like Cloud Computing, Early Voting was given a break after finishing second in the April 9 Wood Memorial (G2) at Aqueduct.
“He’s only run four times and he’s done everything we asked him to do,” Brown said. “He breaks good from the gate. He makes his own trips. He carries his speed a route of ground. He’s a fighter in the stretch. He deserves all the credit here.
“He’s been extremely cooperative to work with. He’s super intelligent. You train him to do something, and he does it,” he added. “I couldn’t be more proud of this horse. He deserves a lot of accolades.”
Early Voting was the third choice in the wagering in the nine-horse Preakness field and paid $13.40 to win. He completed the 1 3/16 miles in 1:54.54.
Maryland Jockey Club Press Release
Photo of Early Voting leaving Pimlico by Maryland Jockey Club
