This article is about 2 years old

PHOTOS: 2023 Preakness Stakes

The 148th annual Preakness Stakes Saturday at the Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland ended with Bob Baffert’s National Treasure beating out Mage. It’s the second horse race in the annual Triple Crown of thoroughbred racing along with the Kentucky Derby and the Belmont Stakes.

The event comes after eight horses died at Churchill Downs, which hosts the Kentucky Derby, and just hours after one of Baffert’s other horses was euthanized.

Despite the challenges, improvements in testing courses and checking for horse injuries have helped calm tensions on the field, according to horse racing analyst Barry Abrams, host of ‘The Far Turn’ podcast.

“I’ve seen some of these improvements with my own eyes, but it’s never enough,” he told WTOP. “And clearly one is too many and a lot still needs to be done.”

Kentucky Derby winner Mage lost the chance at being the first Triple Crown champion in five years.

“I would bet against Mage here,” Abrams said. “I just don’t think he’s going to get the setup he got in Kentucky.”

Check out photos of the event below.

1/22

BALTIMORE, MARYLAND – MAY 20: Trainer Bob Baffert celebrates in the winners circle after his horse National Treasure won the 148th Running of the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course on May 20, 2023 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)

2/22

BALTIMORE, MARYLAND – MAY 20: Jockey John Velazquez (L) hugs trainer Bob Baffert after their horse National Treasure won the 148th Running of the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course on May 20, 2023 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)

3/22

BALTIMORE, MARYLAND – MAY 20: Jockey John Velazquez #1 celebrates aboard National Treasure after winning the 148th Running of the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course on May 20, 2023 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)

4/22

BALTIMORE, MARYLAND – MAY 20: Jockey John Velazquez #1 douses National Treasure with water after winning the 148th Running of the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course on May 20, 2023 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)

5/22

BALTIMORE, MARYLAND – MAY 20: Jockey John Velazquez #1 on National Treasure (R) and jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. #7 aboard Blazing Sevens come out of the fourth turn during the 148th Running of the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course on May 20, 2023 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)

6/22

BALTIMORE, MARYLAND – MAY 20: Jockey John Velazquez #1 riding National Treasure (R) rides alongside jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. #7 riding Blazing Sevens (L) to cross the finish line first to win the 148th Running of the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course on May 20, 2023 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)

7/22

BALTIMORE, MARYLAND – MAY 20: Jockey John Velazquez #1 riding National Treasure leads the field on the first pass before winning the 148th Running of the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course on May 20, 2023 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)

8/22

9/22

BALTIMORE, MARYLAND – MAY 20: The field breaks from the gate during the 148th Running of the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course on May 20, 2023 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)

10/22

Horses compete during an undercard dirt track race ahead of the Preakness Stakes horse race at Pimlico Race Course, Saturday, May 20, 2023, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Julia Nikhinson)

11/22

Stablehand Robbie Dema kisses Misty Veil near the stables at Pimlico Race Course, Saturday, May 20, 2023, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Julia Nikhinson)

12/22

Horses compete during an undercard dirt track race ahead of the Preakness Stakes horse race at Pimlico Race Course, Saturday, May 20, 2023, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Julia Nikhinson)

13/22

BALTIMORE, MARYLAND – MAY 20: Horses walk the paddock before a race ahead of the 148th Running of the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course on May 20, 2023 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)

14/22

BALTIMORE, MARYLAND – MAY 20: Jockey Fredy Peltroche of Bustinupishardtodo looks on after the first race of the day ahead of the 148th Running of the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course on May 20, 2023 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)

15/22

Preakness Stakes entrant Chase the Chaos works out ahead of the 148th running of the Preakness Stakes horse race at Pimlico Race Course, Thursday, May 18, 2023, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

16/22

Rafael Bejarano, atop Taxed, wins the 98th running of the Black-Eyed Susan horse race at Pimlico Race Course, Friday, May 19, 2023, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

17/22

Red Route One is groomed near the stables ahead of the Preakness Stakes horse race at Pimlico Race Course, Saturday, May 20, 2023, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Julia Nikhinson)

18/22

Rafael Bejarano, atop Taxed, wins the 98th running of the Black-Eyed Susan horse race at Pimlico Race Course, Friday, May 19, 2023, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

19/22

Richard Bahde, center, owner of Taxed, holds the Black-Eyed Susan horse race trophy standing next to Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott, left, and Maryland first lady Dawn Moore, after Taxed won the 98th running of the Black-Eyed Susan horse race at Pimlico Race Course, Friday, May 19, 2023, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Julia Nikhinson)

20/22

Rafael Bejarano, atop Taxed, reacts after winning the 98th running of the Black-Eyed Susan horse race at Pimlico Race Course, Friday, May 19, 2023, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Julia Nikhinson)

21/22

Preakness Stakes entrant First Mission works out ahead of the 148th running of the Preakness Stakes horse race at Pimlico Race Course, Thursday, May 18, 2023, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

22/22

BALTIMORE, MARYLAND – MAY 19: Silks are ordered ahead of races for Black-Eyed Susan Day ahead of the 148th Running of the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course on May 19, 2023 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)