Life Is Good to Miss Triple Crown With Hind-End Injury
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Photo: Zoe Metz
Life Is Good breezes March 20 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 is off the Triple Crown trail, trainer Bob Baffert said.
"There is always a possibility every day we go to work, but he's going to be fine," Baffert said. "It's disappointing because he's such an exciting horse."
Baffert confirmed initial reporting from Horse Racing Nation that Life Is Good will travel to Kentucky to be evaluated by Dr. Larry Bramlage at Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital in Lexington. The colt will recuperate at WinStar Farm.
Life Is Good, an unbeaten Into Mischief 3-year-old and recent winner of the San Felipe Stakes (G2) by eight lengths, was the projected favorite for the April 3 Runhappy Santa Anita Derby (G1) and for the May 1 Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) at Churchill Downs. 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 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.
Baffert declined to say how Life Is Good's setback might alter plans with his other leading 3-year-olds. Concert Tour and Medina Spirit are two of his other top Derby prospects.