Blazing Fury out of BC Turf

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. - Blazing Fury, the runner-up in the Turf Classic Invitational at Belmont Park on Sept. 29, has been withdrawn from Saturday's $2 million Breeders' Turf at Arlington Park because to a tendon injury.

Trainer Jim Toner said he noticed a problem with Blazing Fury's right foreleg following a gallop at Belmont Park on Tuesday.

"We want out for a gallop and when we came back we noticed a profile," Toner said. "We did an ultrasound right away and it shows a 10 percent tear in the tendon ligament. We had a problem.

"As of now, I can't go forward with this. It would make matters worse and we'll jeopardize his career.

"He's been galloping over that racetrack all year. I'm dumbfounded. There was something that was noticeably different this morning. We said, 'This isn't right.'"

Toner estimated that Blazing Fury would need six or eight months of rest before returning to training. He said the 4-year-old will spend the winter with the rest of the Toner barn at Payson Park in Florida.

Owned by Caesar Kimmel and Ronald Nicholson, Blazing Fury has won 3 of 13 starts and $488,690. He was fourth in the 2001 BC Turf. His defection leaves the Turf with eight runners, the smallest field in the 19-year history of the race.