Bruised foot forces War At Sea out of La Jolla Stakes

War At Sea, the winner of three consecutive races including the Cinema Stakes at Santa Anita in June, will miss Sunday’s Grade 3 La Jolla Handicap at Del Mar because of a bruised foot.

Trainer Ron Ellis said the bruise was detected after War At Sea worked six furlongs in 1:16.20 on turf last Sunday. War At Sea stumbled as he was being pulled up after the exercise.

“He stumbled just a little bit,” Ellis said. “We X-rayed him and he’s fine. He is a little tender in one part of his foot.

“Hopefully, we’ll get him over it quick. We’re hoping [he misses] just a few days. It’s just bad timing.”

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Owned by Doubledown Stables, War At Sea has won 3 of 8 starts and earned $170,780. The winning streak, consisting entirely of turf races, includes a maiden special weight race at a mile on March 5 and an allowance race at 1 1/8 miles on April 16.

The $150,000 La Jolla Handicap at 1 1/16 miles on turf has a projected field of six – Armagnac, Brit’s Wit, Cabo Spirit, Perfect Flight, Stayincotai, and Sumter.

Cabo Spirit was second in the Cinema Stakes. Sumter won the Singletary Stakes for 3-year-olds at a mile on turf at Santa Anita on April 2.