Baltimore (AP) — Horses trained by Bob Baffert Another Hall of Famer, the three-year-old National Treasure, was euthanized on the track Saturday after suffering a leg injury on the undercard at Pimlico Racecourse hours before winning the Preakness Stakes..
During the sixth race of the day on the same dirt course where the second leg of the Triple Crown race was held, favorite Havna Meltdown leaned forward, knocked Luis Saez off his back and then suffered. I continued running through the final corner.
1/ST Racing, which owns and operates the track, said in a statement that Havna Meltdown had been examined by chief veterinarian Dr Dionne Benson and others, and that the injury to his left front leg was inoperable and had to be removed. It was determined that there was .
Saez was conscious and complaining of leg pain and was taken to Sinai Hospital for examination, race officials said. He spent several minutes on the truck being attended to by medical personnel before being put on a stretcher and taken to an ambulance.
Havna Meltdown’s death came in another important race day in the aftermath of the Kentucky Derby being overshadowed by seven fatalities. It was held over 10 days at Churchill Downs Racecourse.
“It feels awful. And we feel sad. When these things happen, we feel sad. There’s nothing worse than coming back and empty stalls,” Baffert said. . “He’s a good horse. He couldn’t have done better. It’s disgusting. I’m shocked.”
Later in the day, Baffert speaks of the “emotions of this match” as National Treasure defeated the Blazing Sevens by a head at Preakness, ending Derby champion Mage’s Triple Crown challenge. cracked. Mage was the third Saturday.
National Treasure gave Baffert a new record with his eighth Preakness victory and his 17th career Triple Crown.
Havna Meltdown was the 4-5 favorite in the $200,000 Dirt Race. He broke from the inside No. 1 post and was pushed out of the gate by No. 2 Ribitt, but continued to run the six furlong race. Havna Meltdown and eventual race winner Rivitt were ahead of the pack at the second corner.
The Pimlico crowd gasped as he stumbled and threw Saez short of the final corner. The horse was controlled by racetrack staff on the homestretch and led behind a black fence while the jockey remained on the dirt and was examined by medical personnel.
In an awkward moment, 2Pac’s “California Love” kept blaring from infield speakers set up very close to where it all happened.
“It’s very disappointing,” Rividt jockey Tyler Gaffarione said. “I hope Lewis is okay.
Baffert He noted that his horse was “obviously hit quite hard out of the gate.”
“I don’t know if it contributed to the injuries, but I will be completely transparent with those reviewing this terrible accident,” he said on Twitter.
Baffert ran horses at Preakness weekend for the first time in two years 2021 Kentucky Derby winner Medina Spirit returns from suspension for failing drug test. As part of Churchill Downs’ decision, neither has been allowed to run in the Derby for the past two years. And due to a 90-day suspension in Kentucky, which is respected by Maryland and New York, he missed Preakness and Belmont in 2022.
Yet another horse, Arabian Lion, won Saturday’s race.
The Panamanian Saez, who turned 31 on Friday, was originally scheduled to ride Preakness’ top contender First Mission. However, the horse had a problem with his left rear ankle and was injured on the advice of a veterinarian.
In the 2019 Kentucky Derby, Saez led Maximum Security to the finish line, but the stewards revoked the victory for obstructing several horses and demoted the stallion to 17th place. Saez was subsequently suspended for causing interference.
Earlier this year, he finished second in the Florida Derby riding Kentucky Derby champion Mage. Two weeks ago at Churchill Downs, Saez’s Tapit Trice finished seventh in the Derby.
The Havna Meltdown, owned by Michael Pegram, Karl Watson and Paul Weidmann, had won four of his six career races prior to this race. Most recently, she finished second in the Saudi Derby in February.
“I never had a problem with him,” Baffert said. “We take great care with all these horses, but things like this still happen. I just pray for you.”
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Contributed by AP National Writer Howard Fendrich and AP Sports Writer Noah Trister.
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