Longshot Carrick wins Secretariat Stakes

Restricted to 3-year-olds, the Secretariat Stakes is for the youngest horses in the International Festival of Racing.

And some of the youngest fans in the crowd were ecstatic after the 42nd running of the race.

When 38-1 longshot Carrick crossed the wire a neck ahead of favorite Analyze It, more than 20 youngsters in the crowd were able to cash a ticket worth nearly $90.

That's because Jerry Crawford, the winning owner, handed out $2 win and show tickets on his colt before the race.

"One of the fun things we do is find young people before the race and hand them those tickets on our horses," said Crawford, the operator of Donegal Racing. "And then we invite them all to come to the winner's circle if our horse wins."

Ridden by John Velasquez, Carrick returned $78.20 to win $16.80 to place and $9.20 to show in the 13-horse field.

"So all those kids all won about $90 dollars," Crawford said. "There were about 25 of them. There's nothing more satisfying then seeing them come into the winner's circle."

Carrick reached the winner's circle for the third time in four starts.

Trained by Thomas Morley, Carrick won his first two races on the turf at Belmont and was third in the Grade III Kent Stakes at Delaware.

"We knew he would run well," Crawford said. "But to beat this field is extraordinary. I said before we started that you get to be world champion for a day if you win this race.

"Thank you to Arlington, one of the classiest places in the world, and thank you to Mr. Duchossois, who has meant so much to this sport."

Trainer Chad Brown's Analyze It finished second for a third time in a row after a pair of heartbreaking losses to Catholic Boy in the Grade 1 Belmont Derby.

"My horse ran well," jockey Jose Ortiz said. "It might be farther than he wants to go, but he tries. He hasn't disappointed and he performed really well."