BC Distaff

Round Pond gave Matz a win in a tragic Distaff (Lauren Pomeroy/Horsephotos.com)

In the $2,070,160
Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1) on Saturday, Fox Hill Farms’ ROUND POND (Awesome
Again) posted her first win under jockey Edgar Prado since being transferred to
trainer Michael Matz. In a tragic turn of fortune, the thrill of
victory was tempered by the breakdown of the Shug
McGaughey-conditioned Pine Island (Arch) and by division leader Fleet Indian’s
(Indian Charlie) being pulled up by Jose Santos.

According to on-call veterinarian Dr. Wayne McIlwraith, Pine Island suffered
a dislocation of the left front fetlock joint when she stumbled and fell, sending Javier Castellano to the track as
well. The jockey was taken off the
track on a stretcher but was walking soon after. He was able to ride in the
Classic (G1), where he would finish second on Bernardini (A.P. Indy).

The news on Pine Island was not as good, though, as the sophomore filly
had to be euthanized in the
barn.

“The injury was open,” McIlwraith explained. “So you’re dealing with
infection right from the start. That in itself doesn’t necessarily mean
that you need to euthanize, but after it was examined by a veterinarian
on the backside, they relayed information to us that there was just
multiple injuries — presumably comminution, multiple fractures, as well
as soft-tissue injury. Because of the combination of it being open and
the instability, she has been euthanized.”

In contrast, Fleet Indian’s prognosis was encouraging, though initial
reports came in that she, too, had sustained fractures in her left
front.

“Regarding the injury on Fleet Indian, after being taken back to the
barn and radiographed, there were no fractures,” McIlwraith said. “So
the initial examination where they suspected a condylar fracture, what
the horse does have is injuries to both suspensory branches in the left
front fetlock joint, which gives you similar clinical signs. There are
no fractures.

“She’ll be able to be treated effectively and be fine as a
broodmare,” he continued. “At the moment, she’s in a Kimsey splint,
which stabilizes the fetlock joint.”

Matz and Prado found themselves in the position of victor as other trainers
and jockeys were mourning the tragic circumstances that had struck their
runners, a reversal from May when it was Matz and Prado leaving the Preakness S.
(G1) with Barbaro being led off the track in a horse van after shattering his
right hind leg.

“It’s unbelievable, (Pine Island) was stabled next to me,” Matz said.
“Nobody ever likes to see a horse get hurt. It’s very hard to see. I
feel for Shug and the Phipps family.”

Round Pond completed the 1 1/8 miles of the Distaff in 1:50 2/5, 4 1/4
lengths clear of her nearest rival at the line. Asi Siempre (El Prado
[Ire]) crossed the wire in second, a half-length in front of Happy
Ticket (Anet), but she wasn’t allowed to stay in that spot. Asi Siempre and Balletto (UAE)
(Timber Country) had been scrimmaging in midstretch, and Balletto’s jockey Corey Nakatani
lodged a claim of foul against Julien Leparoux aboard Asi Siempre. The stewards upheld the claim,
demoting Asi Siempre to fourth for interference. As a result, Happy Ticket and Balletto
were promoted to second and third, respectively.