Pine Bluff Makes It Clear to Owner

BALTIMORE —  Pine Bluff cleared up some confusion for his owner, John Ed Anthony, by winning the Preakness on Saturday.

Rebounding from a disappointing fifth in the Kentucky Derby, Pine Bluff gave Anthony and his prestigious Loblolly Stable a second Triple Crown win, joining Temperance Hill’s 1980 win in the Belmont Stakes.

Anthony said he wasn’t quite certain what kind of horse he had in Pine Bluff after the Kentucky Derby.

“Confusion is a better word than loss of confidence,” Anthony said.

While he expected to do much better than fifth at Churchill Downs, Anthony also thought his horse was as good as any of the 13 others entered in the Preakness.

“We’d beaten the Derby winner (Lil E. Tee) twice,” Anthony said, showing that gave him a measure of confidence in the Preakness.

Still, he admitted he was a little surprised Pine Bluff came home the winner and didn’t understand the logic that made his colt the favorite.

Anthony said the Preakness win “leaves me relieved, breathless, and a little weak at the knees.”

“It’s the thrill of a lifetime,” he said.

The owner gave much of the credit for the victory to jockey Chris McCarron.

“Chris got every ounce out of the horse, or at least all he needed,” Anthony said.

Pine Bluff was only Anthony’s second entry in the Preakness -- Pine Circle finished fifth in 1984 -- despite Loblolly’s long and successful history in thoroughbred racing.

The 63-year-old Anthony was born in Camden, Ark., and currently lives in Hot Springs. Aside from his racing interests, Anthony overseas extensive family lumber and timber holdings in Arkansas.

Pine Bluff’s victory made it two wins in this year’s Triple Crown races for Arkansas natives. W. Cal Partee, owner of Lil E. Tee, hails from Magnolia. Partee and Anthony’s father were competitors in the timber industry decades ago.