Global Hunter hurt while winning American

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Global Hunter won Sunday's at Hollywood Park, but was pulled up shortly after the finish with a severe injury to his right front ankle.

Global Hunter ($8) ran 1 1/8 miles on turf in 1:48, finishing a head in front of pacesetter Temple City.

Trainer A.C. Avila was on the turf course when Global Hunter was placed on the horse ambulance and taken to the backstretch. He said an effort will be made to save the 7-year-old horse.

"I don't know if we can, but we will try," he said.

According to steward Tom Ward, Global Hunter suffered an injury to his right front ankle.

Jockey Brice Blanc said Global Hunter was injured just after the finish.

"He just broke down two strides past the wire," he said. "He shortened stride and didn't give me any warning."

Global Hunter has won 8 of 30 starts and $611,365. The Grade 2 American Handicap was his first start since a win in the Grade 1 Eddie Read Stakes at Del Mar last summer. An Argentine-bred by Jade Hunter, Global Hunter races for Monte Pyle and Shawn Turner.

In the American, Global Hunter was always near the front, racing in third along the rail behind Temple City and Red Door Drive. Global Hunter emerged on the outside of Temple City in the stretch and did not take the lead until the final strides.

Temple City finished a half-length in front of a fast-closing Hyades, who raced in traffic on the final turn before closing well. Meteore, the 2-1 favorite, was as close as third in the stretch but faded to finish eighth.

There were two key scratches. Compari, the morning-line favorite, was withdrawn on Sunday morning, and is being pointed to the $500,000 Hollywood Gold Cup next Saturday. Riviera Cocktail, the winner of an optional claimer and an allowance race earlier at this meeting, did not start after trainer Neil Drysdale said the horse was "dull" on Sunday morning.