3 minute read

With Mage the winner of the Kentucky Derby finishing third in the Preakness.

The winner was National Treasure, the Bob Baffert trained son of Quality Road who provided some solace to the trainer who had suffered the trauma of his horse breaking down and having to be euthanised in an earlier race.

National Treasure under John Velazquez had a comfortable trip as there was no real pace in the race.  He came under fire when Blazing Sevens, who had been in a handy position through the race, came out and laid it down to him and they jostled for the lead over the last 200m with the horses touching at one stage but neither jockey protested and although from one angle it looked like Blazing Sevens had got up, it was National Treasure who got the last bob of the head.

Mage ran a steady race but lucked the zip he had shown in the Derby and settled for third.  We think he may not have been fully over the Derby as it's tough for 3yos to put two hard races together.

Interesting that the sire of Blazing Sevens and Mage had run 4th in this race, so his sons outshone the father!