After watching Orb win the Kentucky Derby two weeks ago, as guests of Longines, we were invited again this past weekend to watch the second leg of the Triple Crown, the Preakness Stakes. With 3-5 odds going into the race, Kentucky Derby winner, Orb, was the clear favorite. However, it was the underdog, Oxbow, who placed sixth at the Kentucky Derby, and was a 15-1 longshot to win the Preakness, who stole the show. On Saturday, at the Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, ridden by 50-year old veteran Gary Stevens, Oxbow dashed Orb’s Triple Crown hopes with a first place finish.
According to Stevens, Oxbow “didn’t get a lot of respect after the Derby,” but that didn’t matter as he led the entire race and proved Odds makers wrong. Needless to say, with such a dominating win, Oxbow will surely be one of the favorites going into the third and final leg of the Triple Crown — the Belmont Stakes, which takes place in three weeks. While nobody will be winning the Triple Crown this year, an achievement that hasn’t happened since 1978 when Affirmed won it, the chances of a rematch between Orb and Oxbow is likely.
“Longines, the internationally renowned Swiss watch brand and Official Timekeeper and Watch of the 138th running of The Preakness Stakes, ceremoniously awarded Oxbow’s owner, trainer and jockey with watches from the Longines Saint-Imier Collection on Saturday, May 18 in the winner’s circle at Pimlico Race Course.
Juan-Carlos Capelli, Vice President and Head of International Marketing for Longines and Jennifer Judkins, U.S. Brand Manager for Longines awarded Erin Kelley, daughter of owner Brad Kelley, Trainer D. Wayne Lukas and Jockey Gary Stevens with elegant timepieces after the 15-1 long shot surprised the crowd with his upset victory.
Longines had a prominent presence throughout Pimlico on Preakness day serving as the Official Timekeeper and Watch with a large chronograph at the finish line and hosting the Longines Most Elegant Woman at Preakness Fashion Contest. To highlight its partnership, the watchmaker had a digital “Longines Preakness Stakes Countdown Clock” on the official Preakness Stakes website, www.preakness.com and served as the presenting partner of the International Pavilion, the premier hospitality destination. Positioned at the finish line, the International Pavilion brings the world to the Preakness by selecting a different country each year to serve as the host nation with its respective embassy and Ambassador serving as Honorary Host. The embassy of Japan and Ambassador Kenichiro Sasae served as the 2013 host nation.
The Longines Most Elegant Woman at Preakness Fashion Contest celebrated the elegant style of The Preakness Stakes. With the help of celebrity judges Torrey Smith of the Baltimore Ravens and “Miss Racing Queen” Tatiana Schoeppler, Longines chose the most elegant woman and awarded her a stainless steel and rose gold watch of the Longines Saint-Imier Collection featuring a stunning diamond bezel. Longines watches from the Saint-Imier Collection were also presented to the winning horses’ owner, trainer and jockey of the Dixie Stakes presented by Longines.”
Longines is the Official Timekeeper of the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes and now according to the US Longines President, Jennifer Judkins, they have just agreed to a deal that makes them the timekeeper for the Belmont Stakes as well. The Belmont Stakes takes place June 8th in New York.
