Turallure, Grade 1-winning millionaire, euthanized after breakdown

Turallure, the stretch-running gray who was beaten maybe an inch by longshot Court Vision in a memorable renewal of the Breeders’ Cup Mile in 2011 at Churchill Downs, was euthanized Thursday at the Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital shortly after breaking down in a routine gallop at Keeneland in Lexington, Ky.

Trainer Charlie LoPresti said veterinarians contemplated trying to save Turallure after the 6-year-old horse suffered a compound fracture of a hind pastern, but, “It would’ve been no use. It was just too serious. He wouldn’t have had any quality of life whatsoever and would’ve been in constant pain. Those things are always very, very hard.”

Bred and owned by the Four D Stable of Donna Arnold, Turallure won 6 of 26 starts and earned $1,378,997. A Kentucky-bred by Wando, he developed a late kick early in his career that allowed him to become one of North America’s top middle-distance turf horses in 2011, when he won the Grade 1 Woodbine Mile.

Although Turallure had gone winless in his final 11 starts, he still was competitive in stakes and high-end allowances. LoPresti, best known as the trainer of Wise Dan, said the horse appeared to be “as strong as he can be” during his fateful Thursday gallop.

“This is just awful for all of us,” he said. “Turallure was just like part of my family.”