Golden Gate Barn Quarantined After EHV-1N Positive

An equine herpesvirus positive at Golden Gate Fields has the California Department of Food and Agriculture setting biosecurity measures at the Northern California track, while a 3-year-old on the Road to the Kentucky Derby is among those impacted by the discovery.

Trainer Blaine Wright, who conditions El Camino Real Derby winner Anothertwistafate, confirmed March 26 that his main barn at Golden Gate is under quarantine after a 3-year-old filly in his care was euthanized March 23.

According to a statement from the California Horse Racing Board, the filly developed severe neurological signs and tested positive for equine herpesvirus-1 neurotrophic strain (EHV-1N).

"California Department of Food and Agriculture veterinary personnel have inspected the barn and reviewed biosecurity procedures that had been put in place," read the CHRB statement. "One barn of exposed horses has been placed under restricted quarantine with enhanced biosecurity measures and twice daily temperature monitoring. In addition to California Horse Racing Board (CHRB) and Golden Gate Fields management, CDFA personnel will continue to monitor the situation."

According to the CHRB statement, the most common incubation period after EHV-1N exposure is three to eight days. The statement added there is no indication of additional cases at this time. 

A CHRB spokesman said horses have resumed entering and leaving Golden Gate after restrictive measures were in place during the CDFA evaluation Tuesday.

Equine herpesvirus in horses can cause respiratory disease, abortion in mares, neonatal foal death, and neurological disease. The neurological form of the disease is known as Equine Herpes Myeloencephalopathy (EHM) and may be caused by damage to blood vessels of the brain and spinal cord associated with EHV-1 infection. EHM is most often due to the neuropathogenic strain of EHV-1, but may occasionally be caused by the non-neuropathogenic strain of the virus.

Anothertwistafate, who ran second in the March 24 Sunland Park Derby (G3), remains at Sunland Park in New Mexico. Wright said the Scat Daddy colt was not stabled in the same barn as the horse that tested positive.

"We've got a quarantine on my barn for 14 days, which started three days ago when the horse was removed, and we'll be able to train, just not with the other horses," Wright said. "My horses that are in a different barn are not under quarantine, and they'll be able to race and train."

Anothertwistafate will stay at Sunland under the supervision of an assistant trainer for the foreseeable future, Wright said.

"He's doing fine, he's going to remain at Sunland and my assistant is with him," Wright said. "We shouldn't be in trouble with him but we'll take a wait and see approach. We're in no hurry to get him back here. He came out of the race in decent shape and for now we'll just tread water."

Anothertwistafate made a game bid in the 1 1/8-mile Sunland Park Derby but missed by a neck to Cutting Humor. He currently ranks 12th on the Kentucky Derby leaderboard with 30 points and non-restricted stakes earnings of $228,960.

"Once we ran second (in the Sunland Park Derby) we started looking at the points standings and we already started talking about the fact that we might need another race," Wright said. "If we could get in the Derby without another race that's ideal for us, but we're keeping our options open right now because it's looking like a tight race. What we need to happen is for the favorites to win and maintain their position so that the middle doesn't get jammed up more like it currently is. 

"Right now he has a good assistant with him at Sunland, so he'll hang tight and train there for a while and see how things shake loose. We should know more after the April 6 weekend."

Major Road to the Kentucky Derby preps are scheduled coast-to-coast April 6, including the Wood Memorial Presented by NYRA Bets (G2) at Aqueduct Racetrack, the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (G2) at Keeneland, and the Santa Anita Derby (G1) at Santa Anita Park.