Charlie's Penny out of Rachel Alexandra Stakes with fracture

Charlie’s Penny, easy winner of the Silverbulletday Stakes on Jan. 16 at Fair Grounds, is out of Saturday’s Rachel Alexandra Stakes and out of action for several months after being diagnosed with a hairline fracture of the shin.

Chris Block, who trains the Bob Lothenbach homebred 3-year-old filly, said the injury was detected this week after Charlie’s Penny came out of what he called a very good workout Feb. 5 at Fair Grounds. Before the Silverbulletday, Block and his staff had noticed a small bump on the filly’s shin, but X-rays detected no sign of an injury and Charlie’s Penny, Block said, never was lame on the leg, even when the fracture was diagnosed. Block asked for another set of X-rays, though, when the bump didn’t subside, and Charlie’s Penny showed a slight sensitivity when the area was palpated.

“It’s a tiny fissure line but it’s there, and I’m glad we caught it when we did,” Block said.

Charlie’s Penny goes to Florida for 90 days of rest and if all goes well ought to be able to go back into training in late spring.