Belmont Stakes: Master Fencer stumbles during work, has inflamed ankle

ELMONT, N.Y. – Master Fencer had some inflammation in his left front ankle Wednesday afternoon, a few hours after he took an awkward step and stumbled toward the end of a workout in preparation for the $1.5 million Belmont Stakes here on June 8.

“He’s got just a little bit of inflammation in a left front ankle that he didn’t have yesterday,” said Vincent DiCicco, a veterinarian who is not treating Master Fencer but is monitoring the horse for the USDA while he is stabled in New York.

Master Fencer was going to have both his front ankles X-rayed Wednesday afternoon to determine if there is anything more serious than just inflammation, according to Mitsuoki Numamoto, part of the team overseeing the preparation for trainer Koichi Tsunoda.

“Two vets discussed, and there is nothing wrong with the bones, but just in case,” Numamoto said when asked about having X-rays taken.

No determination on Master Fencer’s ability to run in the Belmont was to be made until the X-rays were taken and Tsunoda was consulted.

Shortly after 3 p.m. Wednesday, Master Fencer jogged outside his stall in front of two veterinarians and was not found to be lame, according to Numamoto.

Concern over Master Fencer’s soundness came after his Wednesday morning workout, during which he stumbled just inside the eighth pole.

With assistant trainer Yosuke Kono aboard – subbing for jockey Julien Leparoux, whose flight from Kentucky to New York on Tuesday night was canceled due to weather – Master Fencer was breezing on his left lead until inside the eighth pole.

Kono, who began scrubbing on his horse around the far turn, switched his stick from his right hand to his left and gave Master Fencer a smack or two on the hind end. Master Fencer, who did switch to his correct lead, stumbled for a stride. He recovered quickly and finished the work, but Kono pulled him up about a sixteenth of a mile past the wire.

Though the work order was for five furlongs, Master Fencer actually broke off at the seven-furlong pole. Daily Racing Form clocker Mike Welsch caught Master Fencer working seven furlongs in 1:27.69, with his opening quarter in 25.94 seconds, his middle three furlongs in 36.43, and his final quarter in 25.32.

As he has done each morning here, Master Fencer jogged once around the one-mile training track before coming onto the main track.

Shortly after the breeze, and again before he left the track, Kono could be seen looking behind him at Master Fencer’s left hind leg.

“Up until the eighth pole, he was breezing really well. I was so satisfied,” Kono said via translator Numamoto. “But all of a sudden, he stumbled and gradually shifted to the left, by the rail. I then switched my whip and adjusted him a little bit and also to make him aware one more time to focus on the breeze. I started to push him again, we recovered, but of course, as you’ve seen, I was feeling a little weird, so I tried to stop him as soon as possible.”

Back at the barn, Master Fencer seemed to be cooling out fine as he took several turns on the walking ring with no noticeable issue.

“After the work, there were no problems. I don’t think it’s going to [be] a major issue, but basically, he has not been good at using his left hind. Today, [I] was always caring about the right hind, too,” Kono said. “After this and cooling down, we have to double check his condition. We have to ask the vet to check his hinds.”

Master Fencer ran quite well in the Kentucky Derby, closing from last of 19 at the top of the stretch to cross the wire seventh, just four lengths behind Maximum Security. Master Fencer was promoted to sixth following the disqualification of Maximum Security to 17th place.

On May 9, Master Fencer vanned from Churchill to Keeneland, where he got in two easy half-mile breezes before vanning to Belmont Park, where he arrived last Friday night.

“After the Derby, his appetite was really good, and he was working really good. At the same time, his body has been growing and changing,” Kono said. “I felt his running stride has been getting a bit longer compared to before, which is a good sign for us. At the same time, that longer stride was maybe causing him a little trouble today; we’re not sure.”

Master Fencer worked with bell boots on both front feet. Typically, bell boots are used by North American trainers only when their horses jog, not when they gallop or work.

“Because his stride is getting longer, his left hind has been hitting his front legs, so we want to prevent cracking of a hoof,” Kono said. “Because of that, we use bell boots.”

• At Churchill Downs on Wednesday, Preakness runner-up Everfast worked a half-mile in 50.20 seconds, galloping out five furlongs in 1:03.20. According to Churchill clocker John Nichols, Everfast left the three-furlong pole and went in splits of 12.20 and 37.80.

“That’s all, keep stretching his legs,” trainer Dale Romans said. “He won’t get any more fit, just keep him where he is.”

Romans said Everfast would likely work Monday at Churchill before shipping to New York on Tuesday.

• Owendale, third in the Preakness, is no longer under consideration for the Belmont Stakes, according to trainer Brad Cox.

• Joevia, the Long Branch Stakes winner, is likely to run in the Belmont, though a final decision and his jockey will not be made until after he works Saturday at Monmouth Park, according to trainer Gregg Sacco.

– additional reporting by Marty McGee and Mike Welsch