As expected, Bodemeister and jockey Mike Smith made the lead early, but with no one challenging Bodemeister for the lead as Trinniberg had in the Derby, he was able to set a reasonable pace, going :23.79 for the first quarter and :47.68 for the second. Turning for home, it looked like Bodemeister just might go all the way, with I'll Have Another and Creative Cause nearly three lengths behind, but I'll Have Another closed strongly and caught Bodemeister at the wire, finishing a neck in front as the crowd roared with delight.
"We wanted to be a little bit closer to Bodemeister this time because normally that horse runs a huge race," said Mario Gutierrez, jockey aboard I'll Have Another. "My horse has a tremendous kick in the end. He has been proving that in the last three races. He didn’t disappoint again today."
"The fractions were more reasonable today, so turning for home I really thought he was going to do it, " said Baffert, the five-time Preakness-winning trainer, of Bodemeister 's performance. "He just got a little late there at the end. The winner's a good horse. It was a good horse race."
