Chip sidelines Sharp Lisa

A chip in a hind ankle has knocked Grade 1 winner Sharp Lisa out of the Kentucky Oaks and out of training until autumn. Her trainer, Doug O'Neill, said Tuesday that the chip was discovered in the wake of Sharp Lisa's flat fourth-place finish in the Grade 2 Fantasy Stakes April 15 at Oaklawn Park.

The injury may have originated one week earlier when Sharp Lisa was preparing for the Grade 1 Ashland at Keeneland. She kicked a wall the day the before the race, her ankle swelled up, and she was scratched. The swelling subsided, subsequent X-rays proved negative, and Sharp Lisa shipped to Oaklawn for the Fantasy.

Arthroscopic surgery is standard procedure to remove chips, and O'Neill said Sharp Lisa will resume tack-walking in 90 days.

"She'll be back. Hopefully she'll be our La Canada filly for next winter," he said, referring to the Santa Anita winter series for newly turned 4-year-old fillies. Sharp Lisa has won three races and $424,100 from seven starts. She is owned by J. Paul Reddam, Suarez Racing, and Mark Schlesinger.