Preakness Winner Oxbow Done for the Year
Image:
Description:
Calumet Farm's Oxbow, winner of this year's Preakness Stakes (gr. I), likely will not run again in 2013, according to trainer D. Wayne Lukas.
The son of Awesome Again –Tizamazing, by Cee's Tizzy suffered an ankle injury in the July 27 William Hill Haskell Invitational Handicap (gr. I), in which he finished fourth. That forced Oxbow to pass on the Travers Stakes (gr. I) scheduled for Aug. 24.
"I don't want to push him," Lukas said on HRTV Aug. 16. "He has done a lot for us."
Though Calumet Farm, whose dynasty was built by Warren Wright and continued by his widow, Lucille Markey, is now owned by Brad Kelley and sports Kelley's colors, Oxbow officially became Calumet's eighth Preakness winner.
"It has been a fun year, and Oxbow kind of put Calumet back on the map," Calumet manager Eddie Kane said. "I know it sounds corny, but considering how much Mr. Kelley has put in the business, he deserves it. And Oxbow is the type of horse Mr. Kelley loves; one who lays it on the line every time he runs, much like Optimizer."
In addition to his wire-to-wire victory in the Preakness under Gary Stevens, Oxbow also captured the Lecomte Stakes(gr. III) by 11 1/2 lengths and was second in the Belmont Stakes (gr. I) and Rebel Stakes (gr. II). In all, he has earned $1,243,500.