Promising three-year-old sprinter Mentor Cane was euthanized on Thursday
following an injury sustained during a morning workout.
The King’s Bishop runner-up suffered a right-hind lateral condylar fracture
and a comminuted right-hind P1 fracture, according to Dr. Anthony Verderosa,
chief examining veterinarian for the New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA).
Trained by John Shirreffs for Jerry and Ann Moss, Mentor Cane was second to
the highly-regarded Flashback in their mutual debut at Hollywood last December.
The son of Mizzen Mast got off to a troubled start next time out at Santa Anita,
where he tired to third on a wet-fast track.
Mentor Cane did not reappear until July 6 at Belmont, and immediately stamped
himself as one to watch with a five-length maiden victory. He made his stakes
debut in the Amsterdam on July 28 at Saratoga, winging it up front before
lugging out badly on the turn and ending up fourth.
The talented gray took a big step forward in the August 24 King’s Bishop back
at the Spa. After forcing Let Em Shine through a quick opening quarter, Mentor
Cane struck the front through a half in a sizzling :44 3/5, and he opened up by
four lengths in midstretch. But his early exertions took a toll, and he was
overhauled by Capo Bastone late in the seven-furlong test.
Mentor Cane was easily best of the rest by 3 1/4 lengths. To put his
performance in proper perspective, his pace rival Let Em Shine and the other
early chasers were all well beaten.
A top contender for the six-furlong Vosburgh against older horses on
September 28, the ill-fated colt compiled a record of 5-1-2-1, $167,720.