'02 Preakness Stakes at Pimlico

PREAKNESS STAKES GIVE KTTC TWO LEGS OF TRIPLE

Kids to the Cup and War Emblem completed the second leg of the Triple Crown together and had lots of fun in the process.

Nicole Henderson (MD), Cassie Klein (NJ), Laura Owens (CA) and Alyse Schuver (NC) enjoyed perfect Preakness and Black-Eyed Susan seats as they and their parents thrilled to War Emblem's stirring triumph over fast-closing, local favorite Magic Weisner.

Friday morning fellow KTTC members Nicole Gormley, Brandon Benson, and Sara Katz joined the group for morning workouts and an exclusive backstretch tour.

First stop on the tour was with trainer D. Wayne Lukas who spoke with the group, answered questions, posed for photos and signed autographs.

Members watched morning workouts including several Preakness runners as they galloped past the grandstand. The most notable of the early-morning crew was eventual winner War Emblem.

Trainer Bob Baffert asked the group if anyone had rooted for War Emblem in the Derby and Laura Owens was the only one to raise her hand. Baffert invited her beneath the shedrow to meet with the Kentucky Derby winner up-close and personal. After that Baffert spoke with the entire group and gave his candid insights into the Triple Crown events.

John Ward, trainer of last year's Kentucky Derby winner Monarchos and this year's contender Booklet, welcomed KTTC members under his shedrow for a close look at the Preakness challenger. He and his wife generously extended an open invitation to members of the group to visit their training center located next to Keenland.

Trainer Kenny McPeak and his wife, Sue, met with the group separately and talked about training as a career. Kenny rested in a golf cart as he spoke to the group, nursing a cast on his broken ankle.

Several other KTTC members joined the group after the races on the Preakness backside. Lacy Gaudet and her family hosted a group of members and transported them to the races Saturday afternoon.

Following the Preakness KTTC members were invited to join in the celebration on the backside where they watched as several combatants received their baths. War Emblem's owner and KTTC supporter Prince Ahmed Salman joined the party with trainer Bob Baffert and the star of the show War Emblem.

As the sun set on the Pimlico backstretch and hopes rose that a Triple Crown winner might be on the horizon it was clear that this KTTC Road Trip was a very special one.