Westwood found to have broken coffin bone

ELMONT, N.Y. - Westwood, who was pulled up nearing the far turn of the 6 1/2-furlong True North on Friday, has been diagnosed with a broken coffin bone in his left front foot, according to trainer Kiaran McLaughlin.

Westwood was prompting the pace three wide when jockey John Velazquez felt him take a bad step, and promptly pulled him up.

“He wasn’t traveling right and then it felt like he hit himself,” Velazquez said.

McLaughlin said Westwood’s injury was not life threatening but there would be a long recuperation process. He will be sent to Kentucky in the near future for farm rest.

“He’ll be okay,” McLaughlin said. “Johnny did a good job of pulling him up. We won’t know for a while whether or not he’ll be able to make it back to the races.”

Westwood, Godolphin-owned and Darley-bred, is a 4-year-old son of Bernardini out of Breeders’ Cup Distaff winner Ashado, the champion older female of 2005. Westwood came into the True North with a 4-2-1 record from eight starts. He scored his initial stakes win in the Runhappy at Belmont on May 12.