Champ Pegasus out with ankle injury

ARCADIA, Calif. - Champ Pegasus, who finished 12th in the $5 million Sheema Classic at Meydan Racecourse in Dubai on March 26, will be given a six- to eight-week break because of an ankle injury, trainer Richard Mandella said on Wednesday.

Champ Pegasus underwent an extensive nuclear scan test when he returned to the United States, which showed the injury. “He has an ankle that’s jarred up, but it’s nothing serious,” Mandella said. “We’ll give him a couple of months off.”

Owned by Gerald Ford and Arturo Vargas, Champ Pegasus, 5, has won 5 of 12 starts and $1,018,520. Second in the 2010 Breeders’ Cup Turf at Churchill Downs last fall, Champ Pegasus has one victory in three starts this year – the Grade 2 San Luis Obispo Stakes in February.

Mandella said a return trip to the Breeders’ Cup this fall depends on how quickly Champ Pegasus returns to training.

“Hopefully we can get a race and get ready for the Breeders’ Cup,” Mandella said. “Everything would have to go very well.”