Surgery Planned for Epicenter After BC Classic Injury

Grade 1 winner Epicenter  is expected to undergo surgery Nov. 6 for a lateral condylar fracture of the right foreleg, the racing manager for Winchell Thoroughbreds said Nov. 5 after the Longines Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) at Keeneland.

"I don't think anybody's thinking that it's a life-threatening injury," said Winchell racing manager David Fiske.

Epicenter was transported to Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital in Lexington after the race.

The Runhappy Travers Stakes (G1) winner, who finished second in two of the three Triple Crown races this year, was pulled up in the backstretch by jockey Joel Rosario. He would come to a stop approaching the far turn, where he would be examined and eventually loaded onto a van.

Breeders' Cup released an update on Epicenter at about 8:30 p.m. Saturday that said the horse has settled into the equine hospital.

"After further evaluation by Dr. Larry Bramlage and his counterparts at Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital, Epicenter was found to have sustained a repairable displaced condylar fracture to his right forelimb. He is settled for the night and will undergo surgery in the morning."

As for the injury during the race, Rosario said going into the first turn with Epicenter, "He started not traveling really well for me, so I had to go easy, easy, easy, and then stop him because it seemed like he was not traveling as well as usual." He also said Epicenter "started moving at one point differently than he normally does, and then he got worse and worse."

An on-call veterinarian from the American Association of Equine Practitioners provided an initial update after the race.

"He was put in a Kimzey splint (and) walked on the van," said vet Al Ruggles. "He's now on his way to Rood & Riddle to be evaluated."

Ruggles also said, "It's a closed fracture, meaning the skin's intact, which is extremely important, so that's one of the major things that is a positive."

The Breeders' Cup official statement subsequently said: "Epicenter was pulled up by jockey Joel Rosario after sustaining an injury to his right forelimb in the Breeders' Cup Classic and was attended to immediately by an expert team of veterinarians led by (Kentucky Horse Racing Commission) chief veterinarian Dr. Nick Smith. The horse walked onto the equine ambulance and is being transported to Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital for further evaluation."

At 6-1, Epicenter was sent off as the second-choice in the 1 1/4-mile race. He entered off a 5 1/4-length victory in the Travers Aug. 27 at Saratoga Race Course. In the spring, the son of Not This Time   finished second in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) and second in the Preakness Stakes (G1).