Mr. Hinx to Undergo Surgery for Condylar Fracture

The opening day of Breeders' Cup weekend Nov. 3 at Del Mar saw two severe on-track injuries on the undercard, and while one horse had to be euthanized because of the severity of his injury, another is awaiting surgery.

Gary Barber's grade 1-placed homebred Mr. Hinx was vanned off after his second-place run in the Damascus Stakes Friday, and was diagnosed with a condylar fracture. Trainer Steven Miyadi said the Ministers Wild Cat  gelding would undergo surgery "ASAP" to repair the fracture, but said he had to wait for the Del Mar equine hospital's triage unit to become available. The trainer said despite the injury, Mr. Hinx is "comfortable."

According to the California Horse Racing Board's equine medical director Rick Arthur, the on-track triage unit needs to be open should an injury occur during the World Championships Nov. 4, but he also said, "Breeders' Cup is not preventing this horse from having surgery." Arthur also said Miyadi's private veterinarian had no intention of having Mr. Hinx go through surgery Saturday. Mr. Hinx is scheduled to undergo surgery Nov. 5.

"We do restrict elective surgeries (during the Breeders' Cup), but would take emergency cases," Arthur said.

A race after the Damascus Friday, Sharon Alesia and Ciaglia Racing's Cheekaboomboom broke down after the wire following his sixth-place finish in an optional-claiming allowance on the Del Mar turf course. The Unusual Heat gelding was euthanized later.