Saratoga: Pool Play's career likely ended by tendon tear

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Pool Play, a candidate for the Grade 1 Whitney on Aug. 6, has suffered what for all intents and purposes is a career-ending injury, trainer Mark Casse revealed Wednesday. Pool Play is owned by Bill Farish Jr.

Casse said Pool Play, who rallied from last to upset the Grade 1 Stephen Foster at odds of 36-1 on June 18, has a tear in the upper part of his left tendon. The injury was discovered Tuesday.

“I looked at him yesterday morning before he went out to train and didn’t like what I saw,” Casse said Wednesday afternoon. “We treated him and this morning you wouldn’t even know it was there. He looked normal. But an ultrasound revealed a tear.”

Casse said Pool Play could return to run, but said that after conferring with Farish that it was unlikely the horse would race again.

“If we wanted to press on, we could probably get a race or two out of him this year, but that’s not me or Bill,” Casse said. “We could also bring him back again next season, but he’s 6-years-old, so I’d say, in all likelihood, his career is over.”

Pool Play shook up the handicap division with his victory in the Stephen Foster, which came in his first start on dirt.

“It’s just a shame this had to happen, because he was just beginning to prove to everybody how good he is,” Casse said. “I feel bad for Bill. As for me, it was nice to have had him, and I’m glad he at least was able to win a Grade 1 race and prove to people how talented he is. Hopefully, he’ll go somewhere and be a stallion.”

Pool Play, a Canadian-bred son of Silver Deputy, ends his career with 6 wins from 28 starts and earnings of $909,556.