Little Alexis pulled from Fasig-Tipton sale after spiking fever

ARCADIA, Calif. – Little Alexis, who finished a disappointing ninth in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint, was scratched from Monday’s Fasig-Tipton sale after spiking a temperature of 104 immediately after the race due to a possible reaction to her Lasix shot, according to owner-trainer Carlo Vaccarezza.

Vaccarezza said Little Alexis, who finished third earlier this year in the Grade 1 Test, returned to the barn after the Sprint breathing heavily and with a noticeable lump on the left side of her neck.

“We could see she was in distress from the moment we got her back to the barn,” Vaccarezza said early Sunday morning. “We took her temperature and it was 104.3 at that point. She’s down to 101.7 this morning, but that’s because of the banamine and bute we’ve given her. She’s still not feeling peachy. She’s usually a good eater, but she left some of her feed this morning.”

Vaccarezza said he believed Little Alexis suffered from a reaction at the site of either the Lasix shot she was administered four hours before the race or the vitamin jug she was given the previous day.

“We never saw any problem in that area up until the race,” said Vaccarezza. “I spoke with a couple of vets, and they said often there would be no reaction until it’s brought about by the stress of the race. She did seem a little dull in the paddock, and [jockey Joel] Rosario said he noticed the same thing after breaking away from the pony to warm her up. She got beat only 9 1/2 lengths because of her heart. The performance yesterday was not an indication of her ability. It’s especially disappointing because she trained as well as anybody out here for the last three weeks leading up to the race.”

Vaccarezza said the earliest Little Alexis could return to Florida would be on a flight Monday night but that she would not ship until her temperature returned to normal.

“We’ll get her home, and then I’ll probably send her to the farm in Ocala, give her a rest, and get her ready for the winter in Florida,” said Vaccarezza, who is stabled year round at Gulfstream Park.