Knee Surgery Puts Bravazo Out of Dubai World Cup

Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas said March 1 that Bravazo was to undergo surgery at Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital in Lexington, Ky., to address a knee issue, an injury that will force the 4-year-old son of Awesome Again  to miss one of the world's biggest events.

Based this winter at Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Ark., Bravazo was pointing for the $12 million Dubai World Cup Sponsored By Emirates Airline (G1) March 30 in Dubai. The problem was detected after training Thursday morning, Lukas said.

"He galloped beautifully yesterday," Lukas said. "We thought he was tender coming off the wash rack, and we just got to the bottom of it. He's already gone (to Kentucky) … he had some gravel and garbage that they wanted to clean up."

Lukas said he expects Bravazo to return to his barn by June 1.

The well-traveled Bravazo finished fourth in his 4-year-old debut, the $9 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes (G1) Jan. 26 at Gulfstream Park, and worked twice at Oaklawn since the race, the second was a five-furlong move Feb. 21 in 1:01.

Bred and owned by Calumet Farm, Bravazo has a 3-4-3 record from 17 starts and earnings of $2,003,528. He began an 11-race campaign last year with an allowance victory at Oaklawn. He also won the $400,000 Risen Star Stakes presented by Lamarque Ford (G2) at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots; finished second in the Preakness Stakes (G1) at Pimlico Race Course, the $1 million betfair.com Haskell Invitational Stakes (G1) at Monmouth Park, and the $500,000 Clark Handicap presented by Norton Healthcare (G1) at Churchill Downs; and was third in the $1.25 million Runhappy Travers Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets (G1) at Saratoga Race Course and the $1 million Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1) at Churchill.

"He had a long, hard campaign, so this might not be all bad," Lukas said. "He'll get a little break. He'll be back by the first of June, and that gives him a chance to have a real good summer and fall campaign."