National Treasure, right, with jockey John Velazquez, edges out Blazing Sevens, with jockey Irad Ortiz Jr., to win the148th running of the Preakness Stakes horse race at Pimlico Race Course, Saturday, May 20, 2023, in Baltimore. (AP News photo)
By Jessica Kwong
A horse trained by controversial Bob Baffert, National Treasure, won the 148th Preakness Stakes in Baltimore on Saturday.
National Treasure took an early lead and held it for most of the race at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland. He held off Blazing Sevens’ late surge, and pulled ahead just before the finish line. Blazing Sevens came in second, and this year’s Kentucky Derby winner Mage came in third. National Treasure’s finishing time was 1 minute, 55:12 seconds.
Baffert has now won eight Preakness Stakes and has 17 Triple Crown victories.
It was the first Preakness win for Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez, and marked his sixth Triple Crown.
National Treasure won hours after another one of Baffert’s horses, Havnameltdown, hurt his left front ankle in an undercard race and was euthanized while still on the track.
“We’ve been totally wiped out after (Havnameltdown) got hurt, so the emotions of this game, there’s so many responsibilities a trainer has: employees, horses, jockeys, safety,” said Baffert.
“And then, to win this – losing that horse really hurt, but I’m happy for (Velazquez). He got the win. I have a great team, I got my boy with me.”
Emotional, Baffert said, “I’m sorry, but it’s been a very emotional day.”
Baffert recently received multiple suspensions, including for his horse Medina Spirit, which won the 2021 Kentucky Derby but tested positive for an anti-inflammatory drug. Medina Spirit died in December of that year after a workout. The 148th Preakness Stake was Baffert’s first Triple Crown race in two years.
2023 Preakness Stakes results:
- National Treasure
- Blazing Sevens
- Mage
- Red Route One
- Chase the Chaos
- Perform
- Coffeewithchriss
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