Chance It emerges from Kelso with soft-tissue injury
Trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. said that Chance It suffered a soft-tissue injury during the running of Saturday’s Grade 2 Kelso Handicap at Belmont Park, placing his racing future in doubt. Jockey Manny Franco pulled up Chance It down the backstretch of the Kelso.
Joseph said the injury was similar to the one that forced Chance It to the sidelines for 14 months following the 2020 Tampa Bay Derby.
“It’s a low bow near the pastern, the same thing he had after the Tampa Derby,” said Joseph, who was not in attendance at Belmont for the Kelso. “Fortunately, everything else X-rayed good. He walked off on his own power. Thank God that’s all it was.”
Chance It was stalking the pace of odds-on favorite and ultimate winner Life Is Good when Franco pulled him up in the Kelso. Chance It was coming off arguably the best race of his career, a third-place finish behind winner Yaupon in the Grade 1 Forego at Saratoga on Aug. 28. Yaupon suffered a career-ending injury earlier this week at Santa Anita.