Seize the Grey Shocks the Field in a Muddy Preakness, Ends Mystik Dan’s Triple Crown Hopes
On a rainy afternoon at Pimlico Race Course, history took a detour few saw coming. The 149th Preakness Stakes, held on May 18, 2024, was expected to be another stepping stone for Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan. Instead, it became the breakout moment for a grey colt with grit and guts—Seize the Grey.
Fresh off his win in the Pat Day Mile, Seize the Grey entered the Preakness with less fanfare than Mystik Dan, the post-Derby favorite. Trained by legendary 86-year-old D. Wayne Lukas and ridden by Jaime Torres, the Arrogate colt was ready for the challenge—especially on the sloppy, rain-soaked track, where he had proven success before.
As the gates flew open, Seize the Grey surged to the front and never looked back. Imagination, ridden by Frankie Dettori, gave early chase, but it was clear by the final stretch: Seize the Grey owned Pimlico that day. Mystik Dan, stuck in midfield, couldn’t close the gap, finishing second just ahead of Catching Freedom. The upset ended Mystik Dan’s Triple Crown bid and handed Lukas his seventh Preakness title—a career milestone.
But the dream run didn’t last long. At the Belmont Stakes in Saratoga three weeks later, Seize the Grey set the early pace but faded hard in the stretch, finishing a disappointing seventh. The demanding schedule and extended distance may have proved too much.
Still, his Preakness triumph was unforgettable—a thrilling reminder of horse racing’s unpredictability. While the Triple Crown chase may have ended early this year, Seize the Grey carved his own legacy in the mud of Pimlico.
Secretariat’s Legacy Still Untouchable
The conversation surrounding Seize the Grey’s win inevitably revived comparisons to Secretariat, the gold standard of Triple Crown champions. In 1973, the chestnut legend didn’t just win—he dominated. His record times still stand across all three races, including a jaw-dropping 2:24.00 in the Belmont, winning by 31 lengths.
Only 13 horses have ever swept the Derby, Preakness, and Belmont. Since Justify in 2018, no horse has repeated the feat. Many shine in one or two legs, but none have matched Secretariat’s speed and dominance. While Seize the Grey wrote his chapter in Preakness lore, the throne still belongs to Big Red.
For now, the sport watches and waits. Another champion may rise, but matching Secretariat? That’s a dream still out of reach.