Magna Graduate sidelined with ankle injury

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Magna Graduate emerged from a Sunday workout at Churchill Downs with an injured hind ankle and will be sidelined for several months, trainer Todd Pletcher said Wednesday from Belmont Park.

Magna Graduate, winner of the Grade 2 Clark Handicap here last fall, had been pointing to the Grade 1 Stephen Foster Handicap on June 17. The 4-year-old colt, an earner of more than $1.7 million, finished fourth in his most recent start, the $6 million Dubai World Cup on March 25.

"He came back from his breeze a little off in his right hind," said Pletcher. "There's a small fracture in the ankle, but right now it looks like he won't be needing any surgery. He'll get 60 to 90 days of stall rest and we'll reevaluate him at that time."

Good report for Lawyer Ron

Lawyer Ron, the 3-year-old colt who underwent minor surgery less than a week after finishing 12th in the May 5 Kentucky Derby, already is being walked daily in the Bob Holthus barn.

Lawyer Ron had a tiny chip removed from a hind ankle May 11. "We started hand-walking him Friday," said Holthus. "Everything looks good with the ankle. We'll walk him for three weeks, then start riding him around the shed row and jogging him a little. Hopefully we'll have him ready to run in August, maybe September."