Injury knocks Imperative out of Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile

DEL MAR, Calif. – The veteran gelding Imperative will not run in the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile on Friday at Del Mar owing to "what appears to be the beginning of a hairline fracture of the pelvis," trainer Bob Hess Jr. said Saturday.

"It'll heal. He'll be fine. But he's out of the race," Hess said. "I don't think it will be career-threatening."

Hess said Imperative was uncomfortable after galloping on Saturday morning. "He was lame back at the barn," Hess said.

Imperative would have been making his first start since April in the Dirt Mile. He had a small leg fracture that necessitated time off earlier this year.

On Thursday, Imperative had a workout that caused a California Horse Racing Board investigation owing to the work occurring a day before it should have been allowed because Imperative had been placed on the vet's list for shock-wave therapy treatment on Monday.

Imperative, 7, has won 6 of 38 starts and nearly $3 million.