Cedartown euthanized after developing laminitis

Cedartown, Godolphin’s promising 4-year-old colt, was euthanized last week after developing laminitis as a result of an infection.

Cedartown impressively won the Jan. 13 Louisiana Stakes following a victory Nov. 22 in the $200,000 Zia Park Derby. Cedartown was entered Feb. 9 for the Feb. 17 Mineshaft Handicap and worked for the race on Feb. 10, but shortly thereafter, trainer Mike Stidham said, the colt contracted a serious infection in his leg.

Cedartown first was treated in Stidham’s barn, and then was shipped to the Rood and Riddle clinic in Kentucky when the infection failed to subside. Cedartown developed cellulitis, which also failed to respond to treatment, and subsequently was afflicted with laminitis and had to be euthanized at the clinic, according to Stidham.

Cedartown was by Candy Ride and out of Talkin and Singing, by Songandaprayer. He got a late start to his career, racing for the first time last summer, but won four times and had three second-place finishes from his seven career starts.

◗ Friday’s nominal feature at Fair Grounds is race 8, a turf mile for Louisiana-bred first-level allowance horses or $12,500 claimers. Ninety One Assault is the likely favorite but has lost three times at this class level and is drawn poorly in post 13.

◗ Miguel Mena had widened his lead in the Fair Grounds jockey standings to seven (54-47) over Shaun Bridgmohan entering this week’s racing.