Old Fashioned’s career likely over
It seems this year’s Kentucky Derby keeps losing potential winners with the news that Old Fashioned is the latest horse out of the Run for the Roses.
Old Fashioned, once the early favorite to win the Kentucky Derby on WagerWeb.com, sustained what was perhaps a career-ending injury Saturday after finishing second to Papa Clem at the Arkansas Derby.
The diagnosis was a displaced slab fracture of the right knee, which is not life-threatening but will require surgery. Old Fashioned is owned by Rick Porter, whose filly Eight Belles, the runner-up to Big Brown at last year’s Kentucky Derby, was euthanized on the racetrack at Churchill Downs after breaking her ankles.
“He’s bearing weight on it. I don’t foresee this being a life-threatening situation. This isn’t like last year,” said trainer Larry Jones, referring to Eight Belles. “He will live a very good life.”
Jones said it is impossible to tell when the fracture might have occurred. He said jockey Terry Thompson felt no indication of a problem during the race, and it wasn’t until well after Old Fashioned returned from the post-race test barn and was being walked that the colt showed signs of being off.
Old Fashioned had won his first four starts and started this year with a win in the Southwest at Oaklawn followed by a second at the Rebel Stakes before his second in Arkansas. He has earned $583,280.
Jones indicated the colt, the son of Unbridled’s Song, would probably be retired to stud. Horses can recover from slab fractures and race again, but Jones said “unless horses of that caliber come back at the same level, it makes no sense.”
“We can just hope for the best,” Porter said on his Web site. “He may or may not race again. If not, I am sure he will make a terrific stallion.”
In late February, 2008 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner Midshipman injured his left front leg, forcing him out of the Kentucky Derby and the rest of the Triple Crown races.
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