Wild On Ice Euthanized Following Derby Work

Texas owner/breeder Frank Sumpter Sr. said April 27 that Sunland Park Derby (G3) winner Wild On Ice  was euthanized after fracturing a bone in his left hock following a Thursday morning workout at Churchill Downs.

"I cried with (trainer) Joel (Marr) this morning. It is a sad situation because this horse brought us so much joy," Sumpter said. "Joel told me last week we don't know how good this horse is; he just kept climbing the ladder and had been doing everything so easy. It is a sad deal that we'll never get to see what he could do. My heart is broken for Joel and his staff who practically lived with this horse. We are blessed to have him because he is a magnificent trainer and Ken Tohill is a great rider."

In what was scheduled to be his final serious work ahead of the Kentucky Derby (G1) May 6 at Churchill Downs, the Texas-bred gelding had clocked five furlongs in 1:01 2/5 and then was pulled up by Tohill, his regular rider, while galloping out down the backstretch. Wild On Ice was evaluated at the Churchill Downs Equine Medical Center and was subsequently transported to Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital in Lexington for evaluation. Marr and Tohill also made the trip to Lexington.

Sumpter said his faith gives him the strength to see beyond the immediate tragedy with Wild On Ice.

"It is a sad day but it is actually a glorious day," he said. "I did not want my horse to be in pain. He was with the best vets in the country and they said it was in a seriously bad spot. I knew one day he would not be able to get up and be in so much pain. I know how God works, and I am already so blessed, me and my family. The Lord is a rewarder, so I know God has something special for us and it will be here in his time.

"Sure we are heartbroken, but if this had to happen, it is better for it to happen this week instead of the middle of next week when no other horse could get in," he continued. "It is like Rich Strike  last year. I am happy for (the owners of Skinner) and I praise the Lord for them."

With the loss of Wild On Ice, Santa Anita Derby (G1) third-place finisher Skinner  steps into the Kentucky Derby field.

Last year, RED TR-Racing's Rich Strike did not look like he'd get into the Kentucky Derby field from the time of entries May 2 until the early morning hours of May 6. Then in the waning minutes before the closing scratch time, Ethereal Road  was pulled from the race and cleared a starting spot for Rich Strike, who won the race from post 20 at odds of 80-1.

Already, said Sumpter, he can see blessings ahead from Wild On Ice, who is out of his only broodmare—Slamitagain, a daughter of Grand Slam. He has a contract to breed the mare to Juddmonte Farm's Mandaloun  , a son of Into Mischief   that was named winner of the 2021 Kentucky Derby following the disqualification of Medina Spirit due to a medication violation.

"Just to have a horse to put us in this situation in a rich man's game is such a blessing," he said. "But this horse has also given me a platform to talk about the Lord and breed to nice horses in Kentucky and raise up my breeding program. If it wasn't for him, I could not have done that."