Oxbow comes out of Haskell with wrenched ankle; Travers in doubt

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SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.,Y. - Oxbow, the Preakness winner who finished fourth in Sunday’s Grade 1 Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park, was found to have a wrenched right ankle, according to trainer D. Wayne Lukas.

The injury puts his status for the $1 million Travers Stakes on Aug. 24 in doubt, though Lukas said he “is not ruling out anything.”

“We’re going to go day by day, give him some time to get over that ship, evaluate him with no intent in sight at all,” Lukas said Monday from Saratoga. “We’re not ruling out anything at all. We’ll do what’s best for him, let him dictate his program.”

Galloping out after the Haskell, jockey Gary Stevens didn’t like what he felt underneath him and jumped off the horse rather than jog him back to be unsaddled.

Though the equine ambulance came onto the track, Oxbow was deemed sound enough to walk back to the barn. X-rays on the right ankle were all negative, according to Lukas.

“He never was very uncomfortable when he got back to the barn, but obviously he was uncomfortable in the race," Lukas said. "Gary probably protected him a little bit. He’s comfortable today, that’s the main thing.”

Oxbow finished fourth behind Verrazano, who earned a 116 Beyer Speed Figure for his 9 3/4-length victory in the Haskell, the largest margin of victory in race history.

Verrazano will join Belmont Stakes and Jim Dandy winner Palace Malice, Kentucky Derby winner Orb, Jim Dandy 2-3 finishers Will Take Charge, and Moreno as well as Transparent and Romansh as horses pointing to the Travers.