Walsh Takes Home Preakness Weekend Trainer Bonus

Highlighted by runner-up finishes in both the 150th Preakness Stakes (G1), middle jewel of the Triple Crown, and $300,000 George E. Mitchell Black-Eyed Susan (G2) for 3-year-old fillies, Brendan Walsh earned the top prize of $50,000 in 1/ST Racing's $100,000 trainer bonus offered to horsemen for their participation in stakes races over Preakness weekend, May 16-17, at Pimlico Race Course. A native of County Cork, Ireland, Walsh celebrated his 52nd birthday May 15. A former exercise rider for Godolphin and assistant to trainers Mark Wallace in England and Eddie Kenneally in the United States, he went out on his own in 2012 and owns 773 wins and more than $62 million in purse earnings. His top horses include grade 1-winning millionaires Pretty Mischievous, Maxfield, Santin, and Extravagant Kid. On the weekend, Walsh started horses in five stakes, most notably having 15-1 longshot Gosger get nailed near the wire in a miraculous comeback by favored Kentucky Derby (G1) runner-up Journalism in the Preakness, losing by a half-length. Earlier in the day, he saw Austere finish behind upset winner Charlene's Dream in the $150,000 Gallorette (G3T). Friday's card for Walsh began in the $125,000 Hilltop Stakes, finishing first and fourth, respectively, with Play With Fire andSigh No More. San Siro later ran fourth in the $250,000 Pimlico Special (G3), and Paris Lily nearly pulled off a front-running upset in the Black-Eyed Susan in settling for second, three-quarters of a length behind favored Margie's Intention. Walsh finished with a total of 37 points, six more than runner-up and four-time top bonus winner, Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen. To be eligible for the bonus, trainers had to run a minimum of five horses in the 15 Thoroughbred stakes, seven graded, worth $4.35 million in purses offered during Preakness weekend. Points were accumulated for finishing first (10), second (seven), third (five), fourth (three), and fifth through last (one). The trainer with the most points earned $50,000, followed by $25,000 for second, $12,000 for third, $7,000 for fourth, $4,000 for fifth $2,000 for sixth. This marked the ninth straight year the trainer bonus program has been offered. Asmussen earned the top prize in 2017, 2018, 2021, and 2022. Brad Cox (2019), Mike Maker (2020), Graham Motion (2023), and Cherie DeVaux (2024) have also led the standings. Asmussen has won more races than any trainer in Thoroughbred history with nearly 10,900. He had two wins over Preakness weekend, both Saturday -- the $150,000 Maryland Sprint (G3) with Booth and the Skipat with Zeitlos. His Preakness contender, Clever Again, ran last of nine after a troubled trip. On Friday, Asmussen ran second with Accomplished Girl in The Very One; fifth with Mila Rose in the Miss Preakness (G3); and ninth with Red Route One in the Pimlico Special and Runnin N Gunnin in the Black-Eyed Susan. Cox wound up third with 25 points, topped by Margie's Intention in the Black-Eyed Susan, also running third and seventh, respectively, with Encino and Star of Wonder in the Pimlico Special, and eighth in the Miss Preakness with Stunner. His lone Saturday starter, Invictus, was third in the Sir Barton. Saffie Joseph Jr., based primarily in South Florida at Gulfstream Park, finished fourth with 20 points, led by seconds from Dazzling Move in Friday's Allaire du Pont Distaff and Cash Equity in Saturday's Dinner Party (G3T). Maryland-based trainers rounded out the top six. Graham Motion was fifth with 17 points, running second with Pretty Lavish in the Hilltop and Soleil Volant in the James W. Murphy. Right behind with 16 points was Brittany Russell, the state's winningest trainer in 2023 and 2024, highlighted by Bosserati's comeback triumph in the five-furlong The Very One. Bonus money totaling $50,000 was also offered for trainers having the most points in non-stakes races during Preakness weekend. Points were accumulated in similar fashion with $25,000 going to the leader, $10,000 to second, $7,500 to third, $4,000 to fourth, $2,500 to fifth, and $1,000 to sixth. Trainers needed to have a minimum of three starts to qualify for the bonus. The four trainers that qualified and earned bonus money were Michael Trombetta (24 points), Russell (21), Jose Magana (nine), and Jane Cibelli (five). Bonus money for places five and six reverted back to 1/ST.