Shagaf injured, will miss rest of 2016

ELMONT, N.Y. – Shagaf, who was eased in the Kentucky Derby, underwent surgery Thursday to remove chips from his left knee and left front ankle and likely will miss the rest of the year, according to Rick Nichols, the vice president/general manager for Shadwell Stable.

Nichols said the surgery was performed by Dr. Alan Ruggles, who told Nichols that the prognosis for a return to racing was very good.

“He was very pleased with the surgery and how the horse came out,” Nichols said. “He’s going to need three months. He feels like he’ll be able to return to a high level of racing. We think he’ll make a really nice 4-year-old.”

Nichols said the issues at least provided an excuse as to why Shagaf performed so poorly.

Shagaf, trained by Chad Brown, won his first three races, including the Grade 3 Gotham, before finishing fifth with trouble over a wet track in the Wood Memorial.

Nichols said that Shagaf will move from Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital to Shadwell Farm on Saturday and will remain there for at least three months.

Nichols said that Mohaymen, who finished fourth in the Derby, also was examined at Rood and Riddle and given a clean bill of health. Nichols said Mohaymen will spend two weeks at Shadwell before rejoining trainer Kiaran McLaughlin’s barn. He will point for a summer campaign that will include the Jim Dandy and Travers stakes at Saratoga.

“We’ll give him a few easy weeks and let him eat some grass,” Nichols said.