Rock Fall Euthanized After Keeneland Work

Stonestreet Stables' Rock Fall, a two-time grade I winner and among the favorites for the Oct. 31 TwinSpires Breeders' Cup Sprint (gr. I), broke down just past the wire and was euthanized following a workout at Keeneland Oct. 10.

The 4-year-old Speightstown   colt trained by Todd Pletcher had just completed a workout in company when he broke down in front of the grandstand.

State veterinarian Dr. Will Farmer said it appeared Rock Fall was injured as he was pulling up following the breeze and suffered damage to both front limbs.

Bred in Kentucky by SF Bloodstock and a $250,000 purchase at the Fasig-Tipton Sarataga select yearling sale, Rock Fall had won seven races in a row, including the A. G. Vanderbilt and Vosburgh, both grade I, after finishing eighth in his career debut. He had earned $749,180.

It had been announced earlier in October that Rock Fall was scheduled to stand at stud alongside his sire at WinStar Farm upon completion of his career.

"We are heartbroken to confirm our Rock Fall sustained a life-ending training injury this morning at Keeneland," Barbara Banke's Stonestreet said via Twitter.

Rock Fall is the third horse to suffer a catastrophic injury during the 2015 fall meet while racing or training on the main track at Keeneland, which will host the Breeders' Cup World Championships Oct. 30-31. Shore Runner (racing) and Tacticus (training) were the other two injured on the main track, while Skyring's breakdown on the turf brings the fatality total for the 2015 fall meet to four.

Farmer said the state veterinarian's office at this time has no concerns about the condition of the Keeneland track surface, noting that he has heard no complaints from trainers and that the races and race times have not indicated any issues.

Rogers Beasley, vice president of racing, said Keeneland remains committed to safety.

"We have our surface always tested before every race meet by Mick Peterson and his group, and we always have for years," he said. "We talk to our horsemen, trainers, and jockeys all the time. They have all expressed complete confidence in our surface. The safety of our horses our riders always remains our top priority. While we're extremely saddened by this, we continually remain vigilant and do our work.

"We have great faith in all our people who work on the track. We employ state-of-the-art technology. And we are ill about it but we're going to continue to monitor and continue to look at everything possible—more than once, because safety is our commitment. But the horsemen and jockeys I've talked to have all expressed great confidence in our surface, to be honest with you."