Knee surgery sidelines Heaven's Runway
OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Trainer Rudy Rodriguez will be well represented in Saturday’s Grade 3 Tom Fool Handicap with Sassicaia and All Star Red, but one of his other stakes-winning sprinters will be sidelined until at least the fall.
Heaven’s Runway, who won the Grade 3 Fall Highweight at Aqueduct last November and the Dave’s Friend Stakes at Laurel in December, had surgery to remove a knee chip and will be out four to five months, Rodriguez said Thursday.
The chip was discovered following Heaven’s Runway’s seventh-place finish in the Grade 3 General George at Laurel on Feb. 18.
Rodriguez claimed Heaven’s Runway for $62,500 last August. Three starts later, he upset Stallwalkin’ Dude in the Fall Highweight at odds of 32-1.
Rodriguez said Heaven’s Runway should be able to return in late fall or early winter.