Santa Anita: Bond Holder battles laminitis

ARCADIA, Calif. – Bond Holder, the winner of the Grade 1 FrontRunner Stakes at Santa Anita last September, is being treated at a veterinary clinic in Florida for laminitis, trainer Doug O’Neill said Wednesday.

Bond Holder has been at the Ocala clinic for the last two weeks since he missed a start in the Tampa Bay Derby on March 8.

“We’re dealing with laminitis in his hind left foot,” O’Neill said. “We’re guardedly optimistic. The doctors said it’s day-to-day. It can go the other way real quick. It takes a while to go the right way. He’s in good hands.”

Laminitis is a painful hoof disease that can sometimes prove fatal.

Owned by Paul and Zillah Reddam, Bond Holder has 1 win in 7 starts and earnings of $366,000. Bond Holder was fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Santa Anita last November and fourth in the $750,000 CashCall Futurity at Hollywood Park on Dec. 14, his most recent start.

O’Neill had Bond Holder in Louisiana for the Risen Star Stakes at Fair Grounds on Feb. 22, but did not start the colt because of an unsettled plane trip from California. Bond Holder was sent directly to Florida for the Tampa Bay Derby, but did not start after O’Neill expressed concern about the condition of a foot.