Eurosilver injured, retired

Eurosilver, a multiple graded stakes winner owned and bred by Buckram Oak Farm, has been retired after a hairline fracture was diagnosed in his left hind leg, his connections said Saturday.

Stallion plans have yet to be finalized, said Mohammed Moubarak, racing manager for Buckram Oak.

Eurosilver, 4, who won the Grade 2 Lane's End Breeders' Futurity in 2003 when trained by Nick Zito, suffered his injury when he finished sixth in the Grade 1 Whitney Handicap at Saratoga on Aug. 6. The injury was diagnosed at the Hagyard Equine Medical Institute in Lexington, Ky.

"It's not a bad one," Carl Nafzger, who took over the training of Eurosilver midway through 2004, said of the injury. "It's sort of like what happened to Afleet Alex."

Eurosilver, who won 3 of his first 5 starts, was regarded as a leading contender for the 2004 Kentucky Derby before being sidelined with a glandular infection in his neck.

He won just 1 race in 7 starts after that, the Grade 3 Skip Away at Gulfstream this past April.

Before the Whitney, Eurosilver ran second behind Saint Liam in the Grade 1 Stephen Foster Handicap at Churchill Downs.

Eurosilver, a son of Unbridled's Song, retires with a record of 4-4-0 from 12 starts and earnings of $622,310.