BALTIMORE (AP) — A horse trained by Bob Baffert was euthanized on the track due to a leg injury during the undercard at Pimlico Racecourse on Saturday, several hours before another of Hall of Fame 3-year-olds, National Treasure, won the preakness bets.
On the same dirt track that hosted the second leg of the Triple Crown, favorite Havnameltdown stepped up and knocked jockey Luis Sáez off his back during the sixth race of the day, then continued to run around the final turn with some anguish.
Havnameltdown was examined by veterinary director Dr. Dionne Benson and others who determined that the injury to his left front leg was not amenable to surgery and the horse would have to be euthanized, according to a statement from owner 1/ST Racing. and track operator. .
Saez was conscious and was taken to Sinai Hospital for evaluation, complaining of pain in his leg, track officials announced. He was treated by medical personnel on the track for several minutes before being placed on a stretcher and transferred to an ambulance.
Havnameltdown’s death comes on another big day of racing, following the Kentucky Derby marred by seven deaths at Churchill Downs for a span of 10 days.
“It’s the worst feeling. And we grieve. We grieve when these things happen. There is nothing worse than coming back and the position is empty,” Baffert said. “He is a good horse. He couldn’t have done it better. It’s disgusting. I’m in shock.”
Later that day, Baffert’s voice cracked as he spoke about “the thrills of this game” after watching National Treasure beat Blazing Sevens by a head in the Preakness to end the Derby Mage champion’s bid by a head. Triple Crown. Mage was the third Saturday.
National Treasure gave Baffert his record eighth Preakness win and his 17th Triple Crown win overall, another mark.
Havnameltdown was the 4-5 favorite for the $200,000 dirt race. Breaking from the inside of the No. 1 post, he was pulled off the gate by No. 2 Ryvit, but continued to run into the race over 6 furlongs. Havnameltdown and Ryvit, the eventual race winner, were in the lead of the pack at turn two.
Fans in the crowd at Pimlico Racecourse gasped when the horse stumbled before the final turn and knocked over Saez. While the jockey was being checked by medical staff while on the dirt, track staff checked the horse down the stretch and then led him behind some black barriers.
In an incongruous scene, 2Pac’s “California Love” continued to blare from the infield speakers located near where it all happened.
“Very unfortunate,” said Tyler Gaffalione, Ryvit’s jockey. I hope Luis is okay. We were kind of in on it, and he just kind of disappeared. I looked back and saw Luis coming out the side.”
Baffert He noted that his horse “obviously got hit pretty hard going out the door.”
“We don’t know if that contributed to the injury, but we will be fully transparent with those reviewing this terrible accident,” he posted on Twitter.
Baffert ran horses on Preakness weekend for the first time in two years after returning from a suspension stemming from the failed drug test of 2021 Kentucky Derby winner Medina Spirit. He has been barred from entering horses in the Derby either of the past two years as part of a Churchill Downs decision. And he couldn’t have any at the 2022 Preakness or the Belmont because of a 90-day ban in Kentucky honored by Maryland and New York.
Another of his horses, Arabian Lion, had won an earlier race on Saturday.
Saez, a Panamanian who turned 31 on Friday, was originally supposed to ride top contender First Mission in the Preakness. But that horse was scratched on the advice of vets due to a problem with his left rear ankle.
In the 2019 Kentucky Derby, Saez rode Maximum Security on the line first, but the stewards revoked the win and dropped the colt to 17th for impeding several horses. Sáez was later suspended, accused of causing the interference.
Earlier this year, he rode Kentucky Derby champion Mage to finish second in the Florida Derby. At Churchill Downs two weeks ago, Saez’s horse, Tapit Trice, placed seventh in the Derby.
Owned by Michael Pegram, Karl Watson and Paul Weitman, Havnameltdown had won four of his six career starts prior to this race. He had recently finished second in the Saudi Arabian Derby in February.
“We never had a problem with him,” Baffert said. “We are very careful with all these horses, and it still happens. It is something that discourages. I feel so bad for that horse. And I just hope Luis is okay.”
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AP National Writer Howard Fendrich and AP Sportswriter Noah Trister contributed.
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