Desert Blanc, who won the Grade 1 Manhattan Handicap by a nose on June 9, has
been retired with a tendon injury, Peter Bradley, managing co-owner of Bradley
Thoroughbreds, announced on Sunday.
Bradley, who owns Desert Blanc in partnership with Swift Thoroughbreds, Inc.,
Mackie Racing, and Vintage Thoroughbreds, said the four-year-old emerged from
the race in good order and galloped for three days before swelling was detected.
It was then discovered the colt had a 20 percent tear of his left front
superflexor tendon.
“We’ll find a home for him for a stud career, although we were looking
forward to running him the rest of the year,” Bradley said.
The son of Desert style flashed talent in France last season. After opening
his career with three straight wins, including the Prix de Tourgeville, Desert
Blanc finished third in the Group 3 Prix du Prince d’Orange. He concluded his
time with Pascal Bary with an eighth in the Group 2 Prix Dollar.
Subsequently purchased and transferred to Chad Brown, Desert Blanc made a
promising American debut when runner-up in the Grade 3 Fort Marcy on May 5. He
moved forward off that tightener to prevail in the Manhattan by a nose over
Papaw Bodie.
“Bloodstock agent Peter Bradley deserves a lot of credit,” Brown said
immediately after the Manhattan. “He tried several times to buy this horse in
France. He was adamant we buy him.”
The career-ending injury, just when Desert Blanc emerged as a player in the
turf division, came as a big blow.
“(The Manhattan) was a very exciting race, and he showed he how game and
tough he was,” Bradley said. “It’s the biggest hurt to lose a horse like this to
an injury.”
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