Papa Clem retired with ankle injury

Papa Clem, who won the San Fernando Stakes at Santa Anita on Jan. 16, emerged from the race with an injury to his left front ankle and has been retired, trainer Gary Stute said Saturday.

"He's had a little problem off and on with his ankle," Stute told Santa Anita's publicity department. "After the San Fernando, it filled. He was never lame, but when I X-rayed it, my veterinarian said a big part of the sesamoid had eroded away, so I'm turning him out."

Papa Clem, a homebred son of Smart Strike who raced for Bo Hirsch, was one of the top 3-year-olds of last year. He won the Arkansas Derby and finished fourth in the Kentucky Derby. He won 3 of 13 starts and $1,121,190.

"It's heart-breaking news, but Bo took it well," Stute said. "He felt worse for me than he did for himself. I told Bo if the horse was mine, I'd stand him in California this year, because this late, you're not going to get that many mares in Kentucky. They book way in advance. But they don't book that far in advance in California, and the important thing to me is to get as many foals on the ground as you can."