Leg fracture puts Majesticperfection's career in jeopardy

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Majesticperfection, who vaulted to the top of the sprint division with dynamic victories in Iowa and New York in his last two starts, suffered a condylar fracture in his right foreleg during a workout Sunday morning at Saratoga, an injury that could end his racing career.

Majesticperfection was scheduled to undergo surgery at the Saratoga Equine Clinic at some point Sunday during which time Dr. Alan Nixon would insert one screw to stabilize the cannon bone, according to Sasha Sanan, racing manager for Padua Stables.

"We’ll wait and see how the surgery goes and what the doctor’s take on it is after surgery," Sanan said. "It could be career-ending, not positive."

Majesticperfection, a 4-year-old son of Harlan’s Holiday trained by Steve Asmussen, won five of six starts and really exploded with dominant victories in the Iowa Sprint Handicap, in which he set a track record of 1:07.24 for six furlongs, and the Grade 1 Alfred G. Vanderbilt at Saratoga, which he won by 2 3/4 lengths in 1:08.63. He earned Beyer Speed Figures of 117 and 115, respectively, in those races, which were the highest sprint figures achieved this year.

"Obviously, very disappointing," Satish Sanan, head of Padua Stables said. "Devastating to be honest with you. We’ve been high on this horse since he won at Oaklawn [in April]. The Vanderbilt was a defining race for him; he showed what he could do at Saratoga.

"This is a very tough game," Sanan added. "We lost Odysseus and then you lose this one; it’s a very tough game."

Odysseus was a leading 3-year-old earlier this year who died on Aug. 9 due to complications from laminitis.

The injury to Majesticperfection capped a tough week for Asmussen. Last Sunday, Rachel Alexandra lost the Grade 1 Personal Ensign. On Monday, his top 2-year-old colt, Kantharos, suffered fractured sesamoids in a workout and was retired.

Asmussen declined comment Sunday morning.