Aqueduct: Dance Card sidelined by ankle surgery

Barbara D. Livingston

Dance Card, who won the Grade 1 Gazelle last year, is rehabilitating after having ankle surgery and will be sidelined until late summer.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Dance Card, winner of the Grade 1 Gazelle last fall at Aqueduct, had surgery on both of her front ankles and will be out until late summer, trainer Kiaran McLaughlin said Tuesday.

Dance Card, who won her last four races after losing her debut, is rehabilitating at Keeneland with Darley Stable’s John Burke, according to McLaughlin.

“She had both ankles cleaned up, she had a chip [removed] in the right one, and we cleaned up the left one,” McLaughlin said. “She’s so talented and light on her feet normally. We look forward to getting her back whenever the proper time is.”

Meanwhile, McLaughlin said that Maleeh, winner of the Fred “Cappy” Capossela, will most likely run back in the Bay Shore Stakes here on April 6. Since McLaughlin and Shadwell Stable already have Elnaawi for the Wood Memorial on the same card, he said it makes sense to keep Maleeh sprinting for the time being.

“At this time he looks like a sprinter, but the way he’s doing it he may be able to stretch out,” McLaughlin said. “But the plan is for him to run in the Bay Shore and Elnaawi to run in the Wood.”

Jose Ortiz gets extension

Jose Ortiz, who is battling his brother Irad for leading jockey honors at the inner-track meet, received a five-day extension of his apprenticeship due to weather-related cancellations, according to his agent, Jim Riccio Jr.

Ortiz will be able to ride with a five-pound weight break through March 20, the first day of racing over the main track.
Ortiz has 65 wins, two fewer than his brother entering the final four days of the inner-track season.