Bernardini's 5¼-length victory in Saturday's Preakness Stakes will be a mere footnote in what could be one of the worst days in racing history.

The lasting memory of the race will be the brilliant racing career of Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro, who many speculated would be the horse to break the Triple Crown drought, most likely coming to an end 200 yards into the race.

After breaking through the starting gate before the beginning of the Preakness Stakes and having to be returned to the starting line, Barbaro seemed to get a good jump once of the race started.

Cruising up the backstretch, jockey Edgar Prado was busy placing his undefeated colt when he took a bad step and broke his right rear ankle above and below the joint.

As the rest of the field thundered into the first turn, Barbaro hopped on three legs toward the outside rail until Prado could dismount and try to support the horse until help came.

"I don't want to talk about it," Prado said after the race. "It is what it is." The biggest fear, that one of racing's best horses would have to be euthanized on the track, did not materialize. Instead, track veterinarians were able to put a temporary cast on Barbaro and get him rushed off the track in an ambulance. Veterinarian Larry Bramlage said that the colt first suffered a break above the ankle. Because he "tried to keep running" he then suffered a break below the ankle.

Bramlage said the biggest worry is "damage to the blood supply" and then added that the same injury in a human would keep them in bed for six weeks. Consequently, the broken ankle needs to be stabilized before surgery.

Surgery is set Sunday at the University of Pennsylvania 's New Bolton Center , a veterinary facility, in Kennett Square, Pa. ''Two weeks ago we were on such a high and this is our worst nightmare,'' trainer Michael Matz said at the hospital. ''Hopefully, everything will go well with the operation and we'll be able to save him.''

"There are still some major hurdles," Bramlage said before adding "his career is over. We are trying to save him as a stallion."

While many were watching Barbaro, Bernardini was running the best race of his career. In only his fourth career start, Bernardini, whose last win was the April 29 Withers Stakes in New York , stalked the leaders Like Now and Sweetnorthernsaint. Jockey Javier Castellano, who said he had no idea that Barbaro was hurt, kept looking for the 1-2 favorite. At the half-mile pole, he stopped worrying about anyone in the field.

Castellano said he knew he was going to win because "I had so much horse. Four-hundred yards from the finish the jockey asked and got a finishing kick. "I asked him and he took off," the winning jockey said.

Trainer Tom Albertrani saw the same thing that his jockey was feeling.

"I didn't think he'd win by that far a margin," Albertrani said. "He sure came with an explosive run at the end."

John Ferguson, the bloodstock and racing manager for Sheik Mohammed's Darley Stable, said that Albertrani actually knew much earlier that this colt was going to win Saturday.

"If you asked Tom what you asked Javier 'when he knew he'd win the Preakness,' they'd say it was when (Bernardini) crossed the line at the Withers."

Albertrani said owner Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum will make the decision of whether Bernardini will race in the Belmont Stakes in three weeks.

Bernardini is only the second horse in 23 years to win the Preakness Stakes without running in the Kentucky Derby. His victory also ensured that Thoroughbred racing will have to wait at least another year for a 12th Triple Crown winner.

No horse has swept the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes since Affirmed in 1978. This despite six horses ­- Silver Charm (1997), Real Quiet (1998), Charismatic (1999), War Emblem (2002), Funny Cide (2003) and Smarty Jones (2004) - winning the first two before losing in the Belmont . In addition, Point Given (2001) and Afleet Alex (2005) won the Preakness and Belmont.

The final order of finish of the Preakness: Bernardini, Sweetnorthernsaint, Hemingway's Key, Brother Derek, Greeley 's Legacy, Platinum Couple, Like Now, Diabolical, Barbaro.

The winner paid $27.80, $9.40 and $5.80. He finished the 1 3/16-mile race in 1:54.65.