Pino’s horse finishes third

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BALTIMORE — Maryland-based jockey Mario Pino won three times yesterday, but his dream of winning the biggest race at the track where he has won more than 1,770 races was dashed when Hard Spun finished third in the Preakness Stakes.

Hard Spun assumed the lead when front-runners Xchanger and Flying First Class tired entering the second turn. But Hard Spun didn’t have enough late speed to hold off Curlin and Street Sense.

Pino was riding in the Preakness for the third time, but this was by far his best shot. He was seventh with Escambia Bay in 1981 and 10th aboard Menacing Dennis in 2002. Hard Spun, off his second-place finish in the Kentucky Derby, was the third favorite in the Preakness.

“It was a great experience all day, an awesome day,” Pino said outside the Pimlico Race Course jockey’s room. “The crowd was really with me, and the horse ran well.”

In the Derby, Hard Spun took the lead by default and held on until Street Sense passed him with a furlong remaining. In the Preakness, Pino steered Hard Spun into good position behind the two leaders.

“We got a great trip early, and he relaxed off the leaders and was going well,” Pino said after his best Preakness finish. “All of a sudden, the two horses in front of me started [stopping], so I had to let him float outside.”

Hard Spun was first after six furlongs, but the time of 1:09.80 worried trainer Larry Jones.

“After the second quarter, I thought we were well within ourselves, but I started getting a little more concerned when I saw [1:09.80] after three quarters,” Jones said. “I knew that would be tough.”

And it proved tough. At the top of the stretch, Street Sense and Curlin had passed Hard Spun. He finished about two lengths behind Curlin.

“We would have loved to win it, especially being here at Mario’s home track, but there were other good horses in this race,” Jones said.

Jones said his goal is to run Hard Spun in the Belmont on June 9.

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