Dance With Fate Injured in Del Mar Incident
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Grade I winner Dance With Fate sustained a serious injury July 24 when he bolted and crashed into a fence while on the track at Del Mar prepping for the upcoming San Diego Handicap (gr. II).
The 3-year-old son of Two Step Salsa who won the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (gr. I) earlier this year was the likely favorite against older horses in the 1 1/16-mile San Diego July 26.
According to Del Mar Thoroughbred Club publicity, Dance With Fate was on the track at approximately 5:30 a.m. PDT nearing the far turn when he suddenly bolted to the outside fence and crashed into it, falling hard and losing exercise rider Joe Durant.
The colt was removed from the track by ambulance and returned to trainer Peter Eurton's Del Mar barn where he was attended to by veterinarians for an apparent injury to his right rear leg. Durant was taken by ambulance to Scripps La Jolla Hospital with unknown injuries.
"I don't know exactly how it happened or why," said Eurton. "He tore some ligaments pretty severely in behind (in his right rear leg). We've taken X-rays and they've been sent to Dr. (C. Wayne) McIlwraith for evaluation. We are still searching for a way to go here. We will explore all possibilities. We are not giving up until we run out of options."
Colorado State University's McIlwraith is considered one of the foremost equine orthopedic surgeons in the world. He works out of Colorado State University in Fort Collins.
"It breaks our hearts to report that (Dance With Fate) has to be retired," the colt's connections posted via his official Twitter account, @DanceWithFate. "He loved his job very much and we'll miss him around the barn."
Owned by Sharon Alesia, Bran Jam Stable, and Ciaglia Racing, Dance With Fate has three wins, three seconds and earnings of $680,050. After breaking his maiden at Del Mar as a 2-year-old, the colt finished second in the Del Mar Futurity and Frontrunner Stakes, both grade I, before an unplaced effort in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (gr. I).
Previous to his Blue Grass win at Keeneland, Dance With Fate was an allowance winner on turf and second in the El Camino Real Derby (gr. III). He finished sixth in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) in his most recent start.
Dance With Fate had been entered in the $1.25-million Belmont Derby (gr. IT) July 5 at Belmont Park, but scratched on the eve of the 1 1/4-mile race after a minor bout with colic.
In preparation for the San Diego, he worked a bullet five furlongs in :58 2/5 at Del Mar July 19.