Unbeaten Nadal Retired With Condylar Fracture

Nadal, one of the early favorites for the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1), has been retired with a left front lateral condylar fracture, co-owner George Bolton said May 28.

The injury was diagnosed after the 3-year-old Blame  colt worked a half-mile Thursday in :48 4/5 at Santa Anita Park for Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert. He went into surgery at the equine hospital at the Southern California track, Bolton said.

"It requires two screws," the owner said. "He is now going to become a stallion. It's very sad, obviously. I just got the call this morning. It's a call you never want to get in horse racing.

"He retires undefeated. He retires, thank God, on a soon-to-be recovery. He gave us four great races."

Baffert said the surgery went well, adding the colt would stay at his Santa Anita stable for a few weeks during the early part of his post-surgery recovery.

"He came back from the work a little off so we checked him and there was a little line (on the X-ray)," Baffert said. "He had the beginnings of a fracture. It could have been worse, but we caught it before then."

Nadal was the leader on the Road to the Kentucky Derby with 150 points and sat atop the latest National Thoroughbred Racing Association Top 3-Year-Old Poll. After a maiden win Jan. 19 at Santa Anita, he rattled off three consecutive stakes victories, the Feb. 9 San Vicente Stakes (G2), March 14 Rebel Stakes (G2), and May 2 Arkansas Derby (G1).

The Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park came on the original date of the Derby, leaving Baffert to wonder what might have been. The Kentucky Derby was postponed this March by Churchill Downs officials until Sept. 5 due to COVID-19, and other races such as the Arkansas Derby were later rescheduled due to the pandemic.

"The timing was perfect for him for the Derby. He was on a great schedule," he said. "It’s just a shame with the Derby dreams. The window—he was right there."

Nadal raced for the partnership of Bolton, Arthur Hoyeau, Barry Lipman, and Mark Mathiesen after being purchased by bloodstock agent Kerri Radcliffe for $700,000 at The Gulfstream Sale, Fasig-Tipton's Florida select 2-year-olds in training sale when he was part of the Randy Bradshaw consignment. He was bred in Kentucky by Sierra Farm out of the Pulpit mare Ascending Angel and is the first winner from his dam's two foals to race. 

The bay colt developed into an imposing physical specimen at 3, weighing over 1,300 pounds, and was a candidate for the June 20 Belmont Stakes (G1) at Belmont Park. His retirement could impact the composition of the Belmont Stakes, potentially even within the Baffert stable. A day earlier, Baffert told BloodHorse he was inclined to run Charlatan, another one of his top colts, in the seven-furlong Woody Stephens Stakes (G1) on the undercard rather than have the two colts run together in the Belmont. With Nadal out, his conflict of running the pair together no longer exists.

Baffert was noncommittal Thursday afternoon about race plans.

"I have to talk to everybody," Baffert said about Charlatan's status for the Belmont Stakes. '"The owners (SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Stonestreet Stables, Fred Hertrich III, John Fielding, and Golconda Stables) want to run in the Woody Stephens. We'll see how the horse is training and make a decision.

"This is why I didn't like it when I heard the Kentucky Derby was moved to September. It's so hard to get there, especially when you had them ready to roll in May."

As for the Belmont Stakes, without Nadal and plans for Charlatan uncertain, it leaves Sackatoga Stable's Curlin Florida Derby (G1) winner Tiz the Law as the likely favorite.

Godolphin's Maxfield remains a possibility for the June 20 opening leg of the Triple Crown after winning the May 23 Matt Win Stakes (G3) in his 3-year-old debut. Jimmy Bell, president of Godolphin USA, said Thursday that the Belmont Stakes and the July 11 Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (G2)  at Keeneland remain the leading options for the undefeated homebred son of Street Sense .

"We're still talking among ourselves," Bell said. "We're weighing the Belmont Stakes, and we know things can change daily. We're just grateful he came back fine after his first race since October and we're taking our time before we make a decision."

Even before Nadal's injury, talks had been underway with the owners and stud farms to stand the colt after his racing career.

Bolton said Spendthrift Farm was "obviously in the pole position."