Fault injures leg, race career in danger

ARCADIA, Calif. - Fault, the winner of three consecutive graded stakes at Santa Anita this year, suffered an injury to a hind leg during a gallop on Sunday and may have run her last race.

Trainer Phil D’Amato said Fault was diagnosed with a non-displaced condylar fracture in her left hind leg that will require the insertion of stabilizing screws. An operation is scheduled for Monday.

“She’s comfortable,” D’Amato said.

The injury occurred less than a week before Fault was scheduled to start in the Grade 1 Ogden Phipps Stakes at Belmont Park on Saturday as a leading contender.

D’Amato said Sunday it was not immediately clear whether Fault will be retired to be bred or given ample time to recover from the injury and return to racing. A 4-year-old filly, Fault is owned by the Little Red Feather Racing and Agave Racing partnership.

“The owners will talk among themselves and decide what to do,” D’Amato said. “She can race again, but the question is has she done enough? Will she be a broodmare or will they give her time to come back?"

By Blame, Fault has won 6 of 16 starts and earned $618,795. She was unbeaten in three starts for D’Amato this year – the Grade 2 Buena Vista Stakes on turf in February, the Grade 1 Santa Margarita Invitational in March, and the Grade 3 Adoration Stakes on May 6.

Last year, Fault won the Grade 3 Pucker Up Stakes for 3-year-old fillies on turf at Arlington Park when trained by Michelle Lovell.