Derby Competitor Winning Impression Injured, Euthanized

Winning Impression, 12th in this year's Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1), was euthanized Nov. 12 after he was injured in a turf allowance race at Churchill Downs, said Terry Finley, president and CEO of West Point Thoroughbreds, the gelding's co-owners with Pearl Racing.

The gray 3-year-old son of Paynter  rallied from the back of the pack in the Churchill's ninth race, a first-level allowance at 1 1/16 miles on turf, finishing third, beaten a length under Joe Rocco Jr. As he reached the wire, he bobbled when taking an awkward step and broke down while being pulled up entering the clubhouse turn. He left the racetrack in the equine ambulance.

Rocco was uninjured during the incident and rode the next race.

"Sesamoid too damaged for us to save him," Finley wrote of Winning Impression in a text message. "Simply heartbroken for everyone involved with this very cool horse."

Our Derby horse...our kind,tough warrior. Will miss you, WI. pic.twitter.com/ct2pPP220M

— jeff lifson (@jefflifson) November 13, 2020

Sesamoid injuries in horses can be difficult to repair due to being surrounded by an intricate system of ligaments and with low blood supply to the area. Horses are typically euthanized when a sesamoid is too damaged for a surgeon to remove or reassemble.

Bred in Kentucky by WinStar Farm out of the Unbridled's Song mare Unbridled Sonya, the late runner compiled a 1-1-3 record from 11 starts for trainer Dallas Stewart, making $107,252. Earlier in the year, he was awarded third in a division of the Arkansas Derby (G1) at Oaklawn Park upon the disqualification of Charlatan after a post-race test sample from that colt showed the presence of lidocaine.

Thursday's race was Winning Impression's first start on turf, a surface on which his connections hoped would flourish.

"He looked like he really loved the grass," Finley wrote.