BALTIMORE — Trainer Bob Baffert often talks about the extreme highs and lows in horse racing. On Saturday, he experienced both by winning the Preakness Stakes seven races after watching one of his colts die on the track.
National Treasure, under a masterful ride by John Velazquez, upset Kentucky Derby winner Mage in the second leg of the Triple Crown. The win gave Baffert a record ninth Preakness win and Velazquez a victory in all three legs of the American Classics.
The Hall of Fame trainer had a wide range of emotions after the race trying to balance winning the race and losing Havnameltdown in the Chick Lang Stakes. In a postrace television interview, Baffert's voice cracked as he struggled to share his thoughts about the day.
