Rogue Romance sidelined with foot fracture

Last updated: 3/19/11 8:31 PM

Rogue Romance is out of
consideration for the Kentucky Derby with a foot fracture
(Keeneland Association/Coady Photography)

Bourbon S. (G3) star ROGUE ROMANCE (Smarty Jones) has been taken off
the Triple Crown Trail with a fracture in his left forefoot, according
to a report on Runnymede Farm’s website.

Trainer Ken McPeek said the chestnut colt, bred by Runnymede Farm in
partnership with farm chairman Catesby W. Clay and raced by Clay,
returned lame following an easy three-furlong breeze on Saturday morning
at Gulfstream Park.

X-rays were taken and sent to Dr. Larry Bramlage in Lexington,
Kentucky, who diagnosed a fracture in the foot that will require two to
three months of stall rest.

The fracture is not career-threatening and Rogue Romance is expected
to fully recover and return to the races following rest at Scanlon
Training Center in Ocala, Florida.

“This is unfortunate and the worst timing imaginable,” Runnymede Vice
President and General Manager Martin O’Dowd said. “But we look forward
to Rogue Romance returning to training and hopefully making it back to
the Breeders’ Cup this year.”

Rogue Romance had quickly bounced back from a bruised hind heel
detected recently and had resumed galloping 1 1/2 miles a day prior to
incurring the fracture. He was preparing for the next Saturday’s
Louisiana Derby (G2) at Fair Grounds, with the Kentucky Derby (G1) next
up on the schedule.

Rogue Romance finished third in the November 6 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) at
Churchill Downs, where the championship event will be run again this year. Winner of
the Bourbon at Keeneland last October, the three-year-old finished third in the
Risen Star S. (G2) at Fair Grounds on February 19, his first start of 2011.
Ridden by Julien Leparoux, the colt rallied after becoming rank in close
quarters on the rail in the early going.

Overall, Rogue Romance has won two of five career starts and finished third
twice, with his only other effort a fourth in his career debut at Saratoga last
August, where he won a maiden special weight race in his second start. Rogue
Romance has earned $321,150 to date.