Gulfstream Park: Havana misses Swale with quarter crack

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Havana developed a small quarter crack on his right front foot on Saturday morning, forcing trainer Todd Pletcher to scratch the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile runner-up from the Grade 2 Swale later that afternoon at Gulfstream Park.

“He came out this morning a little tender in his right front foot but I didn’t see anything of note so I took him to the racetrack to see how he was,” said Pletcher. “When he came back after galloping, I noticed he had a little bit of blood on the inside corner of his right foot and saw a little quarter crack. It shouldn’t be a big deal, but obviously the timing couldn’t have been worse.”

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Pletcher said although he doesn’t anticipate the issue to be serious, he noted quarter cracks can be tricky to deal with at times.

“It’s hard to make a firm plan until I can see how long it takes to get this patched up and ready to go,” said Pletcher. “I’ve had some of these where you get a patch on in 48 hours and never look back, while others have been a longer, more drawn out process. Right now we’re literally day to day.”

Havana won his first two starts at 2, including the Grade 1 Champagne, before suffering his lone defeat when beaten 1 1/4 lengths by New Year’s Day in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile.

Pletcher said the horse had some minor setbacks earlier this winter which delayed Havana’s 3-year-old bow, and had hoped to use the Swale as a stepping-stone to one of the major Kentucky Derby preps in April.