Chris Mcgrath / Getty Images

Jockey Robby Albarado celebrates his first Triple Crown victory Saturday. His horse Curlin charged down the stretch to defeat Kentucky Derby winner Street Sense by a head in the Preakness Stakes.

It looked like a repeat of the devastating move that Street Sense used to win the Kentucky Derby, but this time Curlin wasn’t impeded by anything other than his own lack of experience.

As those members of the record crowd of 121,263 who weren’t chased away by showers that fell in the hour before the race roared in approval, Curlin gathered himself for his final assault and began to cut into the leader’s margin.

“I had some horse underneath me, but I just needed to get him in line and turn over on that right lead, and when he did, he exploded for me and come home nice,” Albarado said.

In the end, it came down to two Cajun jockeys riding their hearts out and two tremendous horses giving their all.

Until the final yards it appeared Street Sense had enough left to hold off Curlin, but then the challenger began to gain faster. As they hit the wire, the two riders were maybe the only ones in the plant who knew for sure who had won.

The 33-year-old Albarado said that as they galloped out, the 40-year-old Borel, who had won his first Triple Crown race two weeks ago, turned to him and said, “’You got me,’ and congratulated me like the true professional he is.”

The tight finish sets up a grudge match in the Belmont Stakes in three weeks if both horses continue on the Triple Crown trail, but it appeared that might not happen.

Nafzger, Street Sense’s trainer, said afterward he would talk to the colt’s owner, Jim Tafel, before making any plans, but added, “If I was a betting man, I’d take some bets against it.”

Asmussen said that he was hopeful Curlin could continue on to the Belmont.

“This is the stage this horse was meant for,” he said.

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Patrick Mcdermott / Getty Images

California board suspends O'Neill

Despite vigorously denying he gave one of his horses an illegal performance-enhancing mixture, trainer Doug O'Neill was suspended 45 days — a ban that won't take effect until after his superstar colt, I'll Have Another, tries to win the Triple Crown.

Mike Stewart / AP

Chasing the Crown

  Slideshow: I'll Have Another one win away from becoming the first Triple Crown winner since 1978.

Headlines

• Label

California board suspends O'Neill

Chasing the Crown

The first Triple Crown winner in 34 years?

TCI: Preakness recap and Belmont preview

I'll Have Another 'hard to pull up' in Belmont work

Union Rags breezes at Fair Hill for Belmont

Judge allows suspended jockey back in saddle

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Analysis: I'll Have Another has a decent shot

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Bettor wins $71K-plus with Pick 9 at Arlington