In the world of competitive cheerleading, "hitting zero" means perfection—a flawless routine with no deductions or mistakes. For 10-year-old Bailey Horowitz, that concept inspired the name of a 3-year-old colt she and her family hoped would bring them a perfect day at Laurel Park.
Bailey's father, Justin Horowitz, purchased the young horse in October 2024 and chose a name that would connect his daughter to the sport he loves. "I wanted my kids to fall in love with horse racing just like I did," Horowitz said. And so, Hit Zero was born—a name carrying Bailey's cheerleader spirit and her father's dreams.
By the time Hit Zero stepped into the starting gate for his first career race on Black-Eyed Susan Day, the Horowitz family had waited nearly 19 months to see him run. Under the careful guidance of trainer Brittany Russell, the colt had been given time to mature, overcome early soreness, and develop into the racehorse everyone believed he could be. Friday felt like the long-awaited payoff for all that patience.
The day was designed for celebration. Horowitz let Bailey skip school to attend. Hit Zero's jockey, Sheldon Russell—Brittany's husband—wore bright orange silks in honor of Horowitz's alma mater, Syracuse University. Bailey and her father matched in orange, while her brother, AJ, marked his sixth birthday. Everything seemed aligned for a memorable family moment.
This year's Black-Eyed Susan Day and the 151st Preakness Stakes were already unusual, having moved from historic Pimlico Race Course to Laurel Park while Baltimore's iconic track undergoes massive redevelopment. For Maryland racing, Laurel became the temporary home of the state's signature spectacle—adding an extra layer of significance to every race.
Hit Zero entered as the betting favorite in the 6-furlong opener, a race the Horowitz family had imagined as the beginning of something special. In recent months, they had visited him at his stable at Fair Hill Training Center in Elkton, closely following his progress. As the field turned for home, Justin Horowitz thought he saw his horse's nose push to the front. In that fleeting moment, after all those months of waiting, he allowed himself to envision the perfect finish.