Princess of Sylmar's future in doubt
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Princess of Sylmar came out of her fifth-place finish in Friday’s Grade 1 Personal Ensign with a case of the thumps, an affliction associated with an electrolyte imbalance, trainer Todd Pletcher said Saturday morning.
“It’s probably more common in endurance horses from the research I’ve done,” Pletcher said. “It’s something we’ll see occasionally through the year from various horses. Most of the time, they don’t perform up to standards. It’s the first time we recognized it with her.”
The thumps is not believed to be a serious issue, but Ed Stanco, the owner of Princess of Sylmar, seemed torn Saturday morning whether to continue on or retire the filly, who has won 9 of 15 starts, including four Grade 1 races, and earned more than $2 million.
Among her victories last year were the Kentucky Oaks, Coaching Club American Oaks, Alabama, and Beldame.
“It’s really all up to Todd, what he wants to do,” Stanco said. “This may be it. Maybe. Could be. Too many fillies have been pushed way too far. She’s had a phenomenal career. It may be done. I just don’t know.”
Pletcher said he would discuss further with Stanco what he wants to do. He did feel that Princess of Sylmar was training “every bit as well or arguably even better going into this race than she had in quite a while.”
Meanwhile, things didn’t get much better for Pletcher Saturday morning. Kamarius, a six-length maiden-winning 2-year-old here July 19, had to be euthanized after fracturing his right front ankle galloping out after a Saturday morning workout over the Oklahoma training track. He was working toward a start in Thursday’s Grade 2, $200,000 With Anticipation Stakes.
Kamarius, a son of Candy Ride, was owned and bred by the brothers Alain and Gerard Wertheimer.