Bob Baffert’s National Treasure wins Preakness as embattled trainer takes his 17th Triple Crown race

Bob Baffert’s National Treasure won Saturday’s Preakness, giving the embattled trainer his 17th Triple Crown race victory.

Baffert headed to the winner’s circle on the same day that his colt, Havnameltdown, went down with a fatal left leg injury in an undercard race. Baffert said he and his team were in shock.

It was another dark moment for a sport already reeling from the deaths of seven horses at Churchill Downs in a 10-day span leading up to the Kentucky Derby.

Derby winner Mage finished third in the Preakness. His defeat means there will not be a Triple Crown winner for a fifth consecutive year.

Earlier in the day, Mage suffered an cut near his eye after bumping its head in its stall. Mage ultimately required stitches, but still managed to make the start. 

ational Treasure, right, with jockey John Velazquez, edges out Blazing Sevens

Bob Baffert’s National Treasure won the Preakness, giving him 17 Triple Crown victories 

Jockey John Velazquez #1 riding National Treasure crosses the finish line to win the Preakness

Earlier Saturday, PETA slammed Baffert, claiming that ’75 horses in his care have died’ following news of yet another of his horses being euthanized on the track during the Preakness undercard on Saturday.

Kathy Guillermo – Senior Vice President of the animals right advocacy group – hit out at organizers of the Triple Crown race for providing Baffert with access to the track. 

The latest controversy surrounding the 75-year-old comes barely two months after a federal judge denied Baffert’s request to lift his two-year ban by coordinators of the Kentucky Derby, which the Hall of Fame trainer described as a ‘cancel culture kind of thing’ in 2021.

‘Pimlico should have followed Churchill Downs’ example and barred Bob Baffert from the track,’ Guillermo exclusively told DailyMail.com. ‘Baffert has been implicated in drugging scandals, the deaths of seven horses who collapsed in California, and at least 75 horses in his care have died. 

‘The tragic death of Havnameltdown is the latest in a long line of fatalities. The racing industry must kick out the bad guys or it will have blood on its hands as well as blood on its tracks.’ 

Havnameltdown’s death comes weeks after the Kentucky Derby was overshadowed by eight fatalities over a span of 10 days prior to the race on May 6.