Horses Pramedya and Homeboykris die at early Preakness Day races

Maryland-bred Homeboykris, a 9-year-old horse that ran in the 2010 Kentucky Derby, collapsed and died after winning the first race at Pimlico Race Course on Saturday, according to a Pimlico official.

More misfortune struck in the final turn of Race 4 when Pramedya, a 4-year-old filly running out of the No. 8 position, collapsed on the turf and suffered a left-front mid-cannon-bone fracture. She was euthanized on the track.

It was just her fifth career start.

Pramedya's jockey, Daniel Centeno, fractured his right clavicle and was taken to Sinai Hospital.

Pramedya's owners, Roy and Gretchen Jackson (Lael Stables), also owned Barbaro, who won the 2006 Kentucky Derby before breaking his leg two weeks later in the Preakness.

In the first race, Homeboykris came from behind in the final stretch to win a close contest as a 9-1 underdog, and then collapsed on his way back to the barn from the winner's circle.

His trainer, Francis Campitelli, who grew up near Pimlico, was in the grandstand when Homeboykris collapsed.

1 of 108

Andre Gill of Virginia Beach, Va., enjoys a cigar during the tenth race on Preakness Day at Pimlico Race Course. (Lloyd Fox / Baltimore Sun)

"So apparently, not long after leaving the winner's circle, the boy that takes care of him said they had gone probably 100 yards, and he got wobbly and fell over and he pretty much was dead when he hit the ground," he said. "They're thinking at this point it was some sort of heart attack – you know, ruptured aorta or something like that. We won't know until they do a necropsy on him, just to find out exactly what happened."

Homeboykris will be sent to New Bolton Center Hospital in Pennsylvania for an autopsy, according to the Pimlico official. New Bolton, about 75 miles north of Baltimore, is where Barbaro had surgery after breaking his leg.

Campitelli added, "The horse was in really good health for a 9-year-old horse. When we claimed him, I was really amazed at how good of health. He had no infirmities in his legs. He was just in such good health, you know?"

Homeboykris was a 50-1 long shot in the 2010 Kentucky Derby, where he finished 16th. In his career entering Saturday, he had 14 wins in 63 starts, worth $567,389. His previous six starts dating back to last November had come at Laurel Park, where he won three of six.

"The horsey was a champion. I mean, he went out a winner," Campitelli said. "He was a brave horse at his age. And this was a very tough race that he was in today. ... He ran a great race. We're all proud of him."

1 of 29

Actor Josh Charles outside the Under Armour tent at Pimlico Race Course. (Kim Hairston / Baltimore Sun)