Saratoga: Data Link sidelined indefinitely by injury

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Grade 1 winner Data Link, most recently fourth as the favorite in the Grade 3 Poker at Belmont on July 4, will be sidelined indefinitely due to an ankle injury, trainer Shug McGaughey said Thursday.

McGaughey was hoping to run Data Link, the winner of the Grade 1 Maker’s 46 Mile in 2012, in the Grade 2 Fourstardave Handicap here next month.

“He’s out for a while,” McGaughey said. “He’s got problems with his back ankles. No operations, no injections, just give him a little time.”

Data Link has been at the Fair Hill Training Center in Maryland since July 4. He joined Kentucky Derby winner Orb and Grade 1 Man o’ War winner Boisterous there. Orb has been at Fair Hill since he finished third in the Belmont Stakes. Orb has breezed twice at Fair Hill and is expected to have his next breeze Saturday, McGaughey said.

Meanwhile, McGaughey said he shipped Boisterous to Fair Hill the night he won the Man o’ War last Saturday. McGaughey said his options for Boisterous are the Sword Dancer Invitational at Saratoga on Aug. 17 or the Arlington Million in Chicago the same day.

McGaughey said he is leaning toward the Sword Dancer because Boisterous ran ninth in last year’s Arlington Million.