Kentucky Wildcat has surgery for condylar fracture
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Kentucky Wildcat, the promising colt who was vanned off following a runner-up finish last Saturday in the Sam F. Davis Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs, underwent surgery Monday in Ocala, Fla., to repair a condylar fracture to his right foreleg, according to Jimmy Bell, president of U.S. operations for Godolphin, the colt’s owner-breeder.
Bell said Wednesday that Kentucky Wildcat will be shipped to Kentucky “in due course for rehabilitation and further assessment” and declined to provide further detail. It remains to be seen when or if the 3-year-old Tapit colt will be able to resume his racing career.
Based in recent months at the Palm Meadows training center with trainer Tom Albertrani, Kentucky Wildcat was the 5-2 second choice when he finished second behind Well Defined in the Davis. In his previous start, a Dec. 1 maiden race at Aqueduct, he won by a half-length over the highly regarded Country House, who runs Saturday in the Risen Star at Fair Grounds.
Kentucky Wildcat – whose name was sure to resonate with a certain fan base if he had progressed further on the Kentucky Derby trail – is the first foal to race from his 10-year-old dam, Better Lucky, a two-time Grade 1 winner and $1.2 million earner for Godolphin and Albertrani.
Maragh starts his rehab
Romero Maragh was scheduled to begin rehabilitation therapy Wednesday as the 18-year-old apprentice rider continues to recover from thoracic fusion surgery made necessary by a Jan. 31 spill at Gulfstream.
Maragh posted this week on his Twitter account that “everything has come along nicely” since he was released from Aventura Hospital nearly a week after his Feb. 1 surgery. Hundreds of friends, fans, and riding colleagues have contributed to an outpouring of heartfelt support for Maragh in the aftermath of the incident.
Meanwhile, Carlos Montalvo, who was injured in the same spill, is expected back in about a month after badly spraining his thumbs and breaking a bone in his foot.
Jockey Paco Lopez was suspended 30 days for his role in the incident and will be eligible to return in mid-March. He most recently rode Feb. 3.
Ortiz with open window
When Luis Saez rode here Sunday for the last time in a while, his name was still atop the jockey standings at the championship meet. But when he returns, there could very well be a new leader: Irad Ortiz Jr., the reigning Eclipse Award-winning rider.
Into Wednesday, when Saez began serving two suspensions for recent riding infractions for a total of 10 days, Saez led Ortiz, 84-71. Moreover, Saez will be away at least one additional date because he will be riding Saturday at Fair Grounds in accordance with a Florida exemption that permits a suspended jockey to fulfill stakes engagements during a suspension.
Ortiz has been riding in peak form in recent weeks, racking up six three-win days since Jan. 18 and a four-win day on Jan. 25.
◗ With racing to be held here Monday because of Presidents Day, there will be only one dark day (Feb. 19) at Gulfstream during a 12-day stretch ending Feb. 24.
