The 136th Preakness Stakes ended with the Forestry sired Shackleford, the fourth place finisher at the Kentucky Derby, claiming the coveted blanket of black-eyed susans that goes to the race's victor. The Dale Romans' trained colt paid out $27.20 for every $2.00 win bet as few people, including most odds makers, expected the animal to hold up for the full 1 3/16 miles race. 2011 Preakness Stakes Results Payout saw Kentucky Derby winner and Pimlico favorite Animal Kingdom earn $4.20 for place bet backers and $3.60 for those who wagered on the colt to show.
Almost all horse racing enthusiasts knew 
Shackleford possessed good speed, despite the slow pace the colt set at the Derby, but few were willing to bet on its stamina. The Romans' colt faded down the back stretch at Churchill Downs, allowing Animal Kingdom, Nehro, and Mucho Macho Man all to slip by it as it finished just out the money.
The 1/16 of a mile difference between the Preakness and Derby spared Shackleford from a similar fate at Pimilco as he finished a half length ahead of the hard charging Animal Kingdom on Saturday.
The win represented Romans' first in a Triple Crown event, and it came in just his second attempt at the Preakness. First Dude, Romans' first Preakness Stakes entry, finished second at Pimilco last year.
Romans' remained humble in the aftermath of the weekend's unlikely triumph.
"It's unbelievable. It's phenomenal," Romans said. "We had a lot of claiming horses, the cheapest of the cheap. If you keep doing it long enough and you get the right horses in your hands, anybody can do it. It just takes everybody working together to get this done. It's unbelievable when it comes together."
The victory also marked the first Triple Crown series prize for 38 year old Mexican born jockey Jesus Castanon, who had never had a Preakness mount prior to Saturday's run.
2011 Preakness Stakes Results Payout:
1. Shackleford $27.20 (Win), $10.20 (Place), $6.80 (Show) Exacta 5-11 $114.80
2. Animal Kingdom $4.20 (Place), $3.60 (Show) Trifecta 5-11-1 $1401.80
3. Astrology $8.00 (Show) Superfecta 5-11-1-10 $3106.30
4. Dialed In
5. Dance City
6. Mucho Macho Man
7. King Congie
8. Mr. Commons
9. Isn't He Perfect
10. Concealed Identity
11. Norman Asbjornson
12. Sway Away
13. Midnight Interlude
14. Flashpoint
