Audible Sent to WinStar for Freshening
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Photo: Chad B. Harmon
Audible will enjoy a freshening at WinStar Farm
Grade 1 winner Audible will get a freshening and target major races at the beginning of 2019, Elliott Walden of co-owner WinStar Farm confirmed June 30.
The Into Mischief colt finished third last time out in the May 5 Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) for WinStar, China Horse Club, Starlight Racing, and Head of Plains Partners. After shipping to trainer Todd Pletcher's Belmont Park base, he was declared out of the Belmont Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets (G1) and sent to Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital for a full examination. He returned to Pletcher after a short time at WinStar but was recently shipped back to the Kentucky farm, according to Walden.
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"He's going to get 60 days off," Walden said. "I just think he needs some time. Nothing really was apparent when he went to (Dr. Larry) Bramlage (at Rood & Riddle), other than just a few little things."
Audible won four races in a row in a span of about four months, from November through the Kentucky Derby prep season, topped by his March 31 Xpressbet Florida Derby (G1) score off a win in the Feb. 3 Holy Bull Stakes (G2), both at Gulfstream Park. He was a $500,000 purchase by WinStar and China Horse Club from Crupi's New Castle Farm at the Fasig-Tipton Gulfstream Sale of 2-year-olds in training.
"We thought if Todd didn't really want to breeze him and go on with him now, it's better to give him the time now, so we can get him ready for races like the Pegasus and the Dubai World Cup (both G1)," Walden said.