Stella d'Oro euthanized after injury at Keeneland

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Stella d’Oro, a winner in Ireland and the United States in his brief career, was euthanized after suffering an injury to his right foreleg during the fourth race at Keeneland on Friday, the track’s opening day.

Stella d’Oro, who was making his third start in the United States after starting his career in Ireland last summer, “took a bad step” coming out of the second turn in the 1 1/2-mile turf race, according to jockey Joel Rosario who immediately stopped on the horse and dismounted while holding the horse’s reins until track personnel could arrive to assist.

Veterinary personnel kept the horse’s right foreleg elevated as they waited to load Stella d’Oro on to the ambulance. The 4-year-old colt, by the Irish stallion Sea the Stars out of the Irish mare Awesome d’Oro, was guided on to the ambulance with the assistance of track personnel.

Dr. George Mundy, Keeneland’s equine safety director, said that Keeneland will “conduct an independent review of the incident, the results of which will be published when completed.”

The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission conducts forensic necropsies on horses who die as a result of racing injuries at Kentucky tracks.

Stella d’Oro has been trained by Jack Sisterson for owner Calumet Farm since being transferred from the care of Joseph O’Brien in Ireland. He had a record of two wins and a second from four starts coming into the Friday race, a $75,000 allowance open to nonwinners of two other than. His previous U.S. starts were at Arlington Park in July and Saratoga in August. He raced twice on artificial surfaces, and, counting the Friday race, three times over the turf.
Stella d’Oro was bred in Kentucky by Thomas Conway and bought by Calumet as a yearling for $250,000.