Fever knocks Highway Star out of Ballerina

Highway Star lost a hind shoe during her 46.80-second half-mile bullet workout on Monday while prepping for Saturday’s Grade 1 Ballerina. Trainer Rodrigo Ubillo closely monitored the hoof, which she had also injured earlier this summer by kicking her stall wall, but everything was fine.

On Saturday morning, however, hours before she was scheduled to race, Highway Star spiked a temperature, and Ubillo had to scratch her.

“The hoof is fine. She spiked a 102 temperature this morning,” Ubillo said. “It’s disappointing, especially after she worked so well, but what can you do? I tell myself things happen for a reason.”

Highway Star, a 5-year-old New York-bred daughter of Girolamo who was bred and is owned by Chester and Mary Broman, has won eight of 19 starts and more than $1.1 million. She was beaten a head in last year’s Ballerina.

“If she gets over the fever quickly, we’ll look at either the Presque Isle race over synthetic or the Gallant Bloom at Belmont,” Ubillo said.

The Grade 2, $400,000 Presque Isle Masters is a 6 1/2-furlong sprint over Tapeta on Sept. 17. The Grade 2, $300,000 Gallant Bloom will be run at the same distance on Sept. 23.