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Silver Charm, which went off at 3-1 odds, will try to become the first to win the Triple Crown since Affirmed in 1978 when he runs at the Belmont Stakes on June 7.

Silver Charm raced the 1 3-16 miles in 1:54 4-5 and paid $8.20, $4 and $2.60. Free House returned $3.60 and $2.60, while Captain Bodgit was worth $2.40 to show. Touch Gold stumbled out of the gate, but recovered to finish fourth.

Completing the order of finish were Frisk Me Now, Concerto, Hoxie, Wild Tempest, Cryp Too and Jack At The Bank.

IN A BREATHTAKING FINISH that surpassed the drama of the Kentucky Derby two weeks ago, Silver Charm stalked Free House almost the entire backstretch and stretch run before jockey Gary Stevens was able to get the head of Silver Charm up and bobbing ahead of Free House.

"We need a Triple Crown now," Stevens said. "We need it, and the sport needs it. It couldn't happen to a better guy than (owner) Bob Lewis."

"I hope I don't let the racing fans down for the Triple Crown," said Bob Baffert, Silver Charm's trainer. "Maybe Captain Bodgit and Free House will stay away and let me win."

The start of the race was delayed nearly five minutes as Cryp Too bucked and refused to enter the gate despite being blindfolded. Eventually, after making the horse circle a few times, Cryp Too finally entered.

While Silver Charm broke from the gate cleanly, Touch Gold didn't as it stumbled and almost fell forward. Cryp Too used all its nervous energy to bolt from the gate and take the early lead as it ran the first quarter-mile in 22 4/5 seconds.

"I wanted to follow somebody, so I followed Chris McCarron (Touch Gold's jockey)," Stevens said about the start. "I got him in the clear and he's such a warrior."

BUT THAT ENERGY FADED SHORTLY after the half-mile (:46 4/5) and Free House assumed the lead. Stevens remained patient and kept pace. Wild Tempest made a brief charge on the backstretch, but on the turn, Silver Charm and Free House were nearly even.

Concerto made a dash to the inside on the turn, but was cut off from better position by Free House. After that, Free House valiantly tried to hold off Silver Charm down the stretch run. As the two battled side by side, Captain Bodgit made a strong push to finish third.

While Baffert and Lewis waited for the results to become official, Lewis was confident of victory. Baffert kept repeating "I'm not sure, I'm not sure."

"This great trophy is emblematic of the great, outstanding sporting event of thoroughbred racing," said Lewis, who co-owns Silver Charm with his wife. "What Gary Stevens brought to us today with that magnificent ride and the conditioning that Bob Baffert has brought, what a team the two of them are and how marvelous it has been for Beverly and I to be associated with them."

Stevens won his first Preakness Stakes in nine tries. He had five third-place finishes at Pimlico prior to today.

Silver Charm, purchased as a 2-year-old for $85,000, earned $488,150 and now has a bankroll of $1,632,300 on a record of five victories and three seconds in eight career starts.