Oxbow wins the 2013 Preakness Stakes

Oxbow won the 138th running of the Preakness Stakes Saturday at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore.

Oxbow led right from the 1-3/16 mile-race right from the start to become the first wire-to-wire winner since 1982, according to NBC’s broadcast. Kentucky-Derby winner Orb entered the first term in the middle of the pack behind leader Oxbow, moved to the outside and started making a run after that before getting caught back in the pack and finishing fourth.

Oxbow was 15/1 odds to win.

We now take three weeks off before the 145th Running of the Belmont Stakes closes out the Triple Crown on June 8 in Elmont, N.Y. The Belmont loses some of its drama without any horse trying to win the Triple Crown, of course. The last winner was Affirmed in 1978.

Since winning the Kentucky Derby two weeks ago, all eyes had been firmly affixed to Orb. Although not the most-favored horse entering the Derby, and indeed one who ran among the back of the pack before pulling away down the stretch, Orb’s victory excited gamblers, whether those sentimentally rooting to see the first Triple Crown winner since 1978 or otherwise. Orb entered the week at even odds to win and among offshores lines improved even upon those as money was placed Saturday.

Departing, Itsmyluckyday and Take Charge were among Orb’s top contenders before the race, according to SB Nation’s and Anddownthestretchtheycome’s Matt Gardner, after the decision was made not to run any of the horses who finished second, third or fourth in the Derby.

• Oxbow shocks at 15/1 | Video replay

• Longform: Hall of Fame jockey Gary Stevens returns

• 2013 Belmont Stakes info

• Complete 2013 Preakness Stakes coverage

• SB Nation’s horse racing blog: And Down The Stretch They Come