Preakness Stakes 2011: Dialed In Racing For Record $6.1 Million Payday.

wilheim · May 13, 2011

Dialed In may have disappointed in the Kentucky Derby, but all is not lost. Thanks to two wins at Gulfstream Park -- in the Florida Derby and Holy Bull Stakes -- Dialed In is eligible for a $5.5 million bonus in addition to the $600,000 winner's share of the purse. All he needs to do is outrun the field at Pimlico in the Preakness Stakes to collect the bonus, a record prize for a North American horse.

Trainer Nick Zito tried his best to downplay the importance of the $5.5 million bonus, going to extremes to prove it's not his motivation as the Preakness nears.

"For me, honestly, I’m telling you now — you could give mine to charity, as long as the feed man don’t mind," Zito said. "He could take his and you could give the rest to charity ... You’ve gotta pay your bills, that’s what it’s about. But I’m blessed, as you know, and I’m not going to change. I’m just grateful to have the horse."

Zito would earn an impressive $550,000 cut while Dialed In's owner, but continued to reiterate it wasn't a big deal in the interview, likely to quell concerns the horse didn't go full-bore in the Kentucky Derby. Dialed In came into the Derby as the race favorite, but got stuck in traffic and finished a disappointing eighth.

The 2011 Preakness Stakes gets underway on May 21 at Pimlico.

SBNation.com

JakeT. · May 13, 2011

Why would he win a bonus? This article is lacking key elements.

GoSooners · May 13, 2011

I thought you had to win all three races to get the bonus. Have they changed the rules?

wilheim · May 13, 2011

Dialed In is the only horse in America still eligible for the Preakness 5.5 Bonus if he wins the Preakness Stakes on Saturday May 21st. If Dialed In can win the 136th Preakness Stakes, his owner Robert LaPenta would receive a $5 million bonus and trainer Nick Zito would receive a $500,000 bonus.

Dialed In started his journey by winning the Grade 3 Holy Bull Stakes at Gulfstream Park on January 30th. He swept from last to first to win that $400,000 event, a tactic he would again employ in the Florida Derby when he rallied past a very game Shackleford in the final yards to get up in win. Julien Leparoux has been aboard the 3 year old throughout the season and will likely be riding Dialed In in Preakness.

PortlandMeadows.com

tanner12oz · May 13, 2011

derby was a prep...this was the plan all along

krh7 · May 14, 2011

tanner12oz said:
derby was a prep...this was the plan all along

good call. how much did the derby winner get? still like dialed in - as long as he doesn't have to pass 18 other horses this time out.

tanner12oz · May 14, 2011

krh7 said:
good call. how much did the derby winner get? still like dialed in - as long as he doesn't have to pass 18 other horses this time out.

derby winner gets a million i do believe

GoSooners · May 15, 2011

So let me get this straight. Dialed In gets 6 million dollar bonus if he wins out. But this is in no way related to the bonus that Animal Kingdom gets if he wins the triple crown. I'm not sure if the Triple Crown still has a bonus or they did away with it, but I remember they used to put up a 5 million dollar bonus for the horse that sweeps all three races. Or if there's not triple crown winner, 1 million dollars to the horse with the overall highest finish in all three races.

Betallsports · May 15, 2011

Just so you know, there's more than one Special Bonus attached to the Preakness..
of course this one is not as big as Dialed In

Preakness Stakes Contenders: Shackleford Aims For $555K Bonus

May 14 1:14p by Cory Williams
Shackleford was the fourth place finisher in the 137th Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on May 7. While he didn't finish in the money, there's still a huge payday around the corner if the colt can win the Preakness Stakes on May 21.
Should Shackleford pull off the victory at Pimlico, his owner and trainer will be awarded the XpressBet $555,000 Consolation Prize.
By finishing as a runner in the Fountain of Youth and placing in The Florida Derby, Shackleford has qualified for this bonus program. When you combine the bonus with the prize of winning the Preakness Stakes ($1 million) it's no surprise that the owners were so quick to confirm his appearance.
Shackleford set the pace through most of the Kentucky Derby a week ago, and is one of the favorites to win the Preakness Stakes. With so much money at stake, expect jockey Jesus Castanon to ride Shackleford very hard down the home stretch.

Betallsports · May 15, 2011

GoSooners said:
So let me get this straight. Dialed In gets 6 million dollar bonus if he wins out. But this is in no way related to the bonus that Animal Kingdom gets if he wins the triple crown. I'm not sure if the Triple Crown still has a bonus or they did away with it, but I remember they used to put up a 5 million dollar bonus for the horse that sweeps all three races. Or if there's not triple crown winner, 1 million dollars to the horse with the overall highest finish in all three races.

I believe that ended a year ago or two.

wabashwonders · May 15, 2011

GoSooners said:
So let me get this straight. Dialed In gets 6 million dollar bonus if he wins out. But this is in no way related to the bonus that Animal Kingdom gets if he wins the triple crown. I'm not sure if the Triple Crown still has a bonus or they did away with it, but I remember they used to put up a 5 million dollar bonus for the horse that sweeps all three races. Or if there's not triple crown winner, 1 million dollars to the horse with the overall highest finish in all three races.

this explains it all. Not that difficult to undertand...

http://www.thoroughbredtimes.com/racing-news/2011/05/12/dialed-in-preakness-bonus.aspx