Calder notebook

Close It Out heads into Champali Stakes

The consistent sprint stakes veteran Close It Out and the speedy stakes newcomer Wickersheim head the field for Saturday’s $55,000 Champali Stakes at Calder Casino & Race Course.

No Triple Crown: Oxbow upsets Orb at Preakness

Right from the start, a horse trained by one not so over-the-hill Hall of Famer and ridden by another took control of the Preakness. The result: a huge upset and the end of any hopes for a Triple Crown attempt at the Belmont Stakes.

Oxbow pulls off upset in Preakness

Long-shot Oxbow led wire-to-wire to take the 138th Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course, preventing the possibility of a Triple Crown winner for a 35th consecutive year.

Orb trainer McGaughey fights nerves at Preakness

Early Saturday morning, Shug McGaughey was walking back and forth in front of the stakes barn at Pimlico.

Stevens rides Oxbow to 3rd Preakness win

Although no one really keeps track of such things, Gary Stevens had no problem making the assessment with complete conviction.

Pimlico infield safe and sound for Preakness

In front of one stage, a mother propped her young child on her shoulders while watching the country music group Florida Georgia Line.

Derby winner Orb disappoints in the Preakness

Orb came up short in the Preakness, frustrating everyone who made the Kentucky Derby winner a 3-5 favorite - no one more than trainer Shug McGaughey.

Oxbow wins the slowest Preakness in over 50 years

In a time when horses are babied, racing once a month, D. Wayne Lukas does it his way.

10 Things to Know about the Preakness _ and beyond

There are only two outcomes when it comes to Saturday's Preakness Stakes - either the Kentucky Derby winner Orb wins the race to set up a Triple Crown try in the Belmont Stakes in three weeks, or another horse pulls an upset and prevents a shot at history.

Column: Everybody else had a shot. Why not Shug?

Everybody else had their shot.

Day before Preakness activity

Kentucky Derby winner Orb put in another gallop at Pimlico with one day to go before the 1 3/16-mile Preakness Stakes.

Last Gunfighter shoots to victory in Pimlico Special

Odds-on favorite Last Gunfighter notched his sixth straight win by claiming Friday's $300,000 Pimlico Special at Pimlico Race Course. The 1 3/16-mile race was conducted at the same distance as Saturday's Preakness Stakes.

Lukas seeks 3 times the fun in Preakness

After being on this earth for 77 years, winning 13 Triple Crown races and totaling more than $100 million in purse money, Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas has earned the right to sit in an office and let his assistants do the grunt work in the stables.

What to watch for at the Preakness

All eyes will be on Kentucky Derby winner Orb in the Preakness Stakes on Saturday. The 3-year-old colt will take on eight challengers in the second leg of the Triple Crown. If he wins, Orb will attempt to become the first Triple Crown champion since Affirmed in 1978 at the Belmont Stakes on June 8. In the Preakness, Orb will be facing five horses he defeated in the Derby and three who did not run in the race.

Rosario having the ride of a lifetime with Orb

Joel Rosario is on the ride of his life.

Fiftyshadesofhay rallies to victory in Black-Eyed Susan Stakes

Fiftyshadesofhay, ridden by Joel Rosario, rallied down the stretch to capture Friday's $500,000 Black-Eyed Susan Stakes at Pimlico Race Course. The 1 1/8-mile race for 3-year-old fillies, sister event to the Preakness Stakes, was covered in a time of 1:52.73 on a fast track.

Orb favored to take Preakness, set up Triple try

Orb is ready for his whirl at history.

Fillies take center stage in Black-Eyed Susan

A Hall of Fame trainer and the winning jockey in the Kentucky Derby will join forces Friday in the Black-Eyed Susan, a Grade 2 race for 3-year-old fillies at Pimlico Race Course.

Orb to have an inside view of Preakness from rail

For a while there, it looked as if the Preakness was shaping up to be a runaway victory for Kentucky Derby winner Orb.