Shackleford Wins 2011 Preakness Stakes

Shackleford has won the 2011 Preakness Stakes. This result is not yet official, but the finish was clear enough to be able to call. Shackleford's wire-to-wire win was very nearly snatched away from Animal Kingdom, the reigning Kentucky Derby champion who made a furious charge in the final 200 yards.

Just before post time, Shackleford faced 12-1 odds. This is what our horse racing expert, Matt Gardner, had to say about Shackleford before the Preakness:

With Flashpoint to his inside, it would seem imperative that Shackleford is at least right on the early leader's hip pocket going into the first turn.  If he's not, he's yet to show that he can run at his best if he's more than a length or two back early on.

Clearly, then, this is a surprising run for Shackleford.1978's Affirmed will remain the most recent Triple Crown winner for yet another year.

The 2011 Preakness Stakes gets underway on May 21 at Pimlico racetrack. Stay with our StoryStream for odds, contender profiles, post positions and more. To look back at the Derby, check out SB Nation's 2011 Kentucky Derby StoryStream. Also, our horse racing blog And Down The Stretch They Come has two must-read resources for Derby and Preakness fans: A Beginner's Guide To Following Horse Racing and a glossary of horse racing terms.