Bob Baffert’s National Treasure Wins Preakness, Hours After Another of His Horses Was Killed

Bob Baffert choked on tears and his voice cracked as he tried to sort out the emotions of one of his horses winning a Preakness Stock and another dying on the same track.

“This business has its ups and downs,” he said. “To win this – losing that horse today is really painful. …It was a very emotional day.”

National Treasure won the Preakness on Saturday when Baffert returned to the Triple Crown track after being suspended, but it came hours after another 3-year-old foal, Havnameltdown, was knocked out with a left leg injury during a race under the muscle. The victory ended Mage’s attempt for the Triple Crown in a similar conflict setting to two weeks earlier when he won the Kentucky Derby after seven horses died in 10 days at Churchill Downs.

National Treasure, second pick 5-2, held off the struggling Blazing Sevens to win the 1 3/16 mile, $1.65 million race by head with a score of 1:55.12 .

“He fought all the way,” said equestrian John Velazquez. “He fought really well. … That’s what champions do.”

National Treasure paid $7.80 to win, $4 to place, and $2.60 to show. Blazing Sevens paid $5 to place and $2.80 to show.

Mage came in third after being liked 7-5, paying $2.40 to show. His defeat, due to a much slower pace than the Derby, means there will be no Triple Crown winner for the fifth year in a row.

“I followed every step of the way, winner,” said Mage jockey Javier Castellano. “But those horses, with speed, without speed in the race, are hard to catch.”

Just as Castellano won the Derby on his 16th attempt, Velazquez broke a 0 to 12 drought in the Preakness.

“It’s been a long time,” said Velazquez. “The success I’ve had in other races, not winning this one – it’s definitely flawed, it’s special to have it.”

Baffert had a roller coaster day, returning to Pimlico Racecourse after a suspension that kept him from riding at Preakness last year. The thrill of National Treasure’s victory in Preakness and the Arabian Lion in an earlier bet race contrasts with the agony of Havnameltdown’s death.

Black bars were erected on the dirt track while the horse was laid down. All the while, 2Pac’s song “California Love” blared from the yard speakers for the purpose of celebrating the annual all-day thoroughbred race.

In the evening, Baffert was celebrated for winning his eighth Preakness record, breaking ties with 19th-century coach R. Wyndham Walden. In 2018, Baffert pitted Walden with seven wins at the Baltimore race against Justify, who became the sport’s 13th Triple Crown winner — and Baffert’s second, after American Pharoah ended a long drought for the sport in 2015.

This is Baffert’s first Preakness in two years as the ban stems from 2021 Kentucky Derby winner Medina Spirit, the winner of an unsuccessful drug test that resulted in disqualification in that race. Medina Spirit is Baffert’s most recent Preakness horse, coming in third.

Baffert didn’t arrive in Baltimore until this Thursday, seeking to keep a lower-than-usual record in the face of questions that have dogged him and tarnished his reputation. A Hall of Famer and longtime face of horse racing, Baffert managed to get through his suspension when asked on Friday.

“We just keep moving forward,” he said. “We have other horses to worry about. A lot of things make noise, so you don’t make a fuss and keep working.”

Although horse racing deaths in the United States are at their lowest since they began being tracked in 2009, adding another case at the Triple Crown race track would only do so. strengthen internal and external oversight of the industry. Those inside it said they accept the reality of horse deaths on the track while acknowledging more work needs to be done to prevent as many as possible.

In that direction, new national drug and doping rules will go into effect on Monday. The federally authorized Equestrian Integrity and Safety Authority, which regulates race safety and other measures, will oversee drug-testing requirements for horses in order to first consume them. standardize the sport nationally.