Mourinho, winner of the $150,000 Smarty Jones at Oaklawn Park earlier this year, was euthanized Monday morning at Santa Anita. According to various reports, the son of Super Saver fractured a sesamoid in a front leg while working in company with Restoring Hope, a stablemate from the barn of Bob Baffert.
Fourth in his most recent start in the February 19 Southwest (G3) at Oaklawn, Mourinho was under consideration for Saturday’s Rebel (G2) at Oaklawn or the Sunland Derby (G3) on March 25.
A debut winner on September 30 at Santa Anita, Mourinho finished second in the $70,000 Speakeasy at Santa Anita and the Bob Hope (G3) at Del Mar prior to his season debut score in the one-mile Smarty Jones on January 15. He earned 10 Kentucky Derby qualifying points for the victory.
Mourinho was bought by owner Phoenix Thoroughbred for $625,000 at last year’s OBS March Sale of two-year-olds in training. Phoenix Thoroughbred also owns Gronkowski, a point earner in the European Road to the Kentucky Derby seires.
