Saratoga: Friend Or Foe done for the year

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Trainer John Kimmel said that Friend Or Foe, the fourth-place finisher in the Whitney Handicap, is done racing for the year because of an ankle issue that will likely require two months of inactivity.

“He’s got a little area of fiber damage in the medial suspensory branch which is very slight but didn’t resolve itself,” Kimmel said. “Basically thought I’d rather be safe than sorry. We detected this thing early and doing the proper thing is a lot better . . . they just don’t go away. People bandage them and sometimes they can race, but the problem is each time you do something strenuous you might increase the damaged area more and more to the point where it might not be so easily mended.”

Kimmel said he had not yet decided whether to keep Friend Or Foe with him or ship to Niall Brennan’s farm in Ocala, Fla., which is equipped with an aquaciser, akin to an underwater treadmill.

Meanwhile, Kimmel has laid out plans for his pair of juvenile maiden winners at this meet. Vexor, who won a 5 1/2-furlong maiden race here on Aug. 10, will start in Monday’s Hopeful while Fire On Ice, who won his debut Saturday will be pointed to the Grade 1 Champagne at Belmont on Oct. 8.

Fire On Ice, a son of Unbridled’s Song, who won his debut by 10 3/4 lengths running six furlongs in 1:09.67 and earning a Beyer Speed Figure of 88.

“I kind of thought he was a good very good horse all along,” Kimmel said. “He worked with horses who have won already and worked within himself to stay with them. He never lost a breeze and had taken dirt in the morning so in no way does he need the lead. The Champagne is the main thing on our radar. The distance is within his scope.”