Bob Black Jack injured, likely retired

ARCADIA, Calif. - Top sprinter Bob Black Jack suffered a soft-tissue injury in a workout on Friday morning at Hollywood Park that "looks like it's career-ending," trainer James Kasparoff said Saturday.

"His owners are looking to sell him and have him stand at stud," Kasparoff said. "It's a bummer, because things were going so good."

Kasparoff trained Bob Black Jack for his brother, Tim, and Jeff Harmon. He had recently returned from a near 14-month layoff to win the Grade 2 San Carlos Handicap at Santa Anita on Feb. 20. But after working a swift five furlongs in 59.60 seconds on Friday morning at Hollywood Park, Kasparoff said Bob Black Jack was found to have an injured suspensory ligament in his right front leg.

The right front leg suffered a tendon injury in December 2008 after Bob Black Jack, then 3, won the Grade 1 Malibu Stakes. Extensive therapy, including stem-cell treatment, enabled him to return.

"It's the same leg but a different injury," Kasparoff said. "The tendon is excellent. For me, it's a pretty big blow. He's the best horse I've been around."

Bob Black Jack, by the Bertrando stallion Stormy Jack, won 5 of 11 starts and $684,925. In addition to the Malibu and the San Carlos, he is best known for setting a Santa Anita track record for six furlongs of 1:06.53 on a souped-up racetrack in the Sunshine Millions Dash in January 2008. Though he was an accomplished sprinter, Bob Black Jack finished second to Colonel John in the 2008 Santa Anita Derby going 1 1/8 miles.