Paladin off Triple Crown trail after suffering ankle injury
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The undefeated Paladin, ranked first in Daily Racing Form’s Derby Watch, is off the Triple Crown trail after suffering an injury Saturday morning while completing a workout at Payson Park, trainer Chad Brown said Saturday.
Paladin, winner of the Grade 2 Remsen at age 2 and the Risen Star at 3, was pointing to next Saturday’s Grade 1, $1.25 million Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland. He was timed in a workout Saturday morning in 48.80 seconds.
Brown said Paladin suffered a non-displayed condylar fracture of his right front ankle, an injury that was detected after he got back to the barn Saturday morning. Paladin is expected to be shipped to Rood and Riddle Hospital in Lexington, Ky., where Dr. Larry Bramlage will operate.
“After consulting with Dr. Bramlage from afar after, he looked at the radiographs, he thinks it’s going to require two screws,” Brown said. “Good prognosis, but we’re going to have to stop on him and address it.”
Brown said the injury will force Paladin to miss all the major races this spring and summer.
Paladin, a son of Gun Runner owned by Coolmore connections of Mrs. John Magner, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, Peter Brant, Brook T. Smith and Summer Wind Farm, was officially unbeaten in three starts. He was elevated to first in a maiden race at Aqueduct in October. He followed that with a two-length win in the Grade 2 Remsen at Aqueduct in December and took the Grade 2 Risen Star at Fair Grounds by a half-length in February.
“It’s a heartbreaker,” Brown said. “Not only the Kentucky Derby but all summer up and through Saratoga, that’s what makes it extra disappointing for somebody like me. It’s a tough one, but this can be a challenging sport at times and it was one of those days.”
Brown also reported that Canaletto, third in the Tampa Bay Derby, is going to be out until fall with an injury.
Brown still has Emerging Market, winner of last Saturday’s Louisiana Derby, and Iron Honor, winner of the Grade 3 Gotham and expected favorite for next Saturday’s Grade 2 Wood Memorial at Aqueduct, pointing to the Kentucky Derby.
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