Travers Nominee Japan Fractures Sesamoid
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Trainer Bill Mott reported that Travers (gr. I) nominee Japan emerged from his Aug. 22 workout at Saratoga Race Course with an injury that is likely to be career-ending.
"He fractured a sesamoid," Mott said outside his barn the morning of Aug. 23. "(It's) not good."
Japan, winner of the WinStar Farm Easy Goer Stakes June 6 on the Belmont Stakes presented by DraftKings (gr. I) undercard, led the Jim Dandy (gr. II) field in the early going before giving way to Texas Red at the top of the stretch to finish third Aug. 1.
In Saturday's five-furlong breeze, Japan was timed in :59.59, the third-fastest of 43 at the distance.
Owned by Barry Schwartz, Japan is by Medaglia d'Oro out of Maya, by Capote. The half brother to multiple graded stakes winner Al Khali was a $300,000 yearling purchase from Gainesway, agent, at the 2013 Keeneland September yearling sale. He posted a 2-1-1 career line from five starts and earned $189,000.