She was making just her second start for Graham, having arrived at our Fair Hill base in early March. And AMANI’S IMAGE chose a grand stage for her second career win in a 1 1/16 mile allowance on the grass at Pimlico on Preakness Day.

Fourteen fillies and mares entered the gate in one of the largest fields on the card. Preakness Day is quite the spectacle, with sensory overload for the horses (and the humans, for that matter) in every direction. The 4-year-old gray filly had the advantage of John Velazquez in the tack, and she benefitted from one of his typically masterful rides. Taking over near the 1/8 pole, she drove on to win by 1 1/2 lengths.

That race was Johnny’s second win on the card; he won the previous race – the Sir Barton Stakes – on Arabian Lion. He had a tremendous day, going on to capture the Maryland Sprint Stakes-G3 on Straight No Chaser and the 148th Preakness Stakes-G1 on National Treasure.

Amani’s Image was bred in Kentucky by International Equities Holding, Inc. By Tapit out of graded stakes placed Amani [CHI] (by Morning Raider [IRE]), she is owned by Sumaya U.S. Stable. We congratulate them on this stylish win!

Photo by Jerry Dzierwinski/Maryland Jockey Club