Veteran stakes winner Battle Station injured, euthanized

ELMONT, N.Y. – The New York-bred 8-year-old gelding Battle Station, a three-time stakes winner, suffered multiple injuries to his left hind leg at the end of a workout Sunday morning over Belmont Park’s main track and had to be euthanized, according to trainer Domenick Schettino and his veterinarian.

Approaching the wire, jockey Dylan Davis had to pull up Battle Station abruptly. The horse was placed on an equine ambulance and was later taken to the Ruffian Clinic across the street from Belmont Park. Unfortunately, the injuries were too severe for Battle Station to be saved.

According to Dr. Don Baker, Battle Station suffered a comminuted pastern fracture, a lateral condylar fracture, and a medial sesamoid fracture to the left hind leg.

“His injuries were a little worse than Barbaro’s,” said Baker, referring to the 2006 Kentucky Derby winner who suffered severe injuries in the Preakness that ultimately led to his being euthanized seven months later. “Because the pastern was so badly fractured, you couldn’t do a joint-fusion surgery.”

Schettino, who had claimed Battle Station for $45,000 on April 27, never got a chance to race the gelding. Schettino said he was prepared to pay for the surgery Sunday had he been told it could have saved the horse.

Battle Station began his career in the barn of Wesley Ward. He won his first two starts including the Bertram F. Bongard Stakes by 9 1/4 lengths. At 3, he won the Rego Park for Ward. In 2020, at 5, Battle Station won the Lucky Coin Stakes at Saratoga for trainer Rob Atras.

Overall, Battle Station, a son of Warrior’s Reward, had a record 9-10-6 from 53 starts with career earnings of $745,475.

On Saturday, the 8-year-old Kentucky-bred gelding Troubling Moon suffered a sudden cardiac death at the conclusion of a workout from the gate over the training track.

Troubling Moon, a son of Into Mischief trained by Chris Englehart, had a record of 3-1-3 from 25 starts and earnings of $197,744.