First Mission, an early favorite of preakness betting, has been dropped from the second leg of the Triple Crown due to concerns over a possible ankle problem, officials said Friday.
The announcement came just 36 hours before the Preakness after vets at Pimlico Race Course became concerned about an «unspecified problem with the left rear ankle», the Maryland Jockey Club he said in a news release early Friday morning.
First Mission gears up after working out on the track Tuesday morning at Pimlico Race Course in preparation for the Preakness on Saturday. (Jerry Jackson/Baltimore Sun/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)
«There was a small concern on the part of the 1/ST veterinary racing team,» Godolphin USA director of bloodstock Michael Banahan said in a statement provided by the Maryland Jockey Club.
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«They thought maybe it was a minor issue with the left rear ankle. You couldn’t really make a proper diagnosis on site, at the track,» Banahan said, adding that the horse had been taken to a hospital in Lexington for a additional evaluation.
First Mission walks the track during a practice session ahead of the 148th Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course on May 18, 2023 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Patricio Smith/Getty Images)
«It’s unfortunate, but we know he’s a very talented horse, and I’m sure we’ll have great days with him in the future.»
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First Mission was the second favorite going into this weekend’s race, with Kentucky Derby Winner, Magicianhe remains the overall favorite to win at odds of 8-5.
Friday’s news comes just days after another horse was euthanized at Churchill Downs following a leg injury. He was the eighth horse to die in the past two weeks at the famed racetrack: seven died in the run-up to the Kentucky Derby.
Preakness Stakes contender First Mission trains Tuesday morning at Pimlico Race Track. (GREGORY FISHER-USA TODAY SPORTS)
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The number of deaths has prompted groups like PETA to call for stricter protocols to ensure the safety of the animals.
Associated Press contributed to this report.