Reports: Life Is Good Exits Work With Hind-End Injury
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Photo: Zoe Metz
Life Is Good breezes at Santa Anita Park
WinStar Farm and China Horse Club's Life Is Good exited a workout at Santa Anita Park March 20 with an apparent hind-end injury and will miss at least a start in the April 3 Santa Anita Derby (G1), according to published reports.
"He came back to the barn after the work and was off when he turned," trainer Bob Baffert told Daily Racing Form. "We have to do more tests on him. It's nothing obvious, but he's out of the Santa Anita Derby."
Baffert did not immediately return a telephone or text message to BloodHorse seeking comment.
Horse Racing Nation reported Elliott Walden, president and CEO of WinStar Farm, texted that Life Is Good would be “out for few months. Off left hind. Going to see Dr. (Larry) Bramlage this week.”
Bramlage is an orthopedic surgeon at Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital in Kentucky. He is also known for his skill in diagnosing unsoundness.
Walden, president and CEO of WinStar Farm, declined to comment further in a text message to BloodHorse.
Life Is Good, an unbeaten Into Mischief 3-year-old colt and recent winner of the San Felipe Stakes (G2) by eight lengths, was the projected favorite for the Santa Anita Derby and for the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) at Churchill Downs May 1. He closed as the 2-1 favorite in Pool 4 of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager, the shortest-priced individual March future wager favorite in the 23-year history of the KDFW.
He had worked six furlongs in 1:11 2/5 Saturday morning in a move the initially pleased his connections, not drifting out in the stretch, as he had in the San Felipe.
This story will be updated.