by Jeff Lowe

Grade 3 winner Chelokee underwent surgery to fuse his injured ankle on Monday at Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital in Lexington.

The Cherokee Run colt broke down with dislocated sesamoids in his right front ankle on May 2 in the Alysheba Stakes (G3) on a sloppy and sealed track at Churchill Downs.

Larry Bramlage, D.V.M., Rood and Riddle’s chief of surgery, said the procedure went well and that Chelokee was in good order on Tuesday afternoon.

Michael Matz trained Chelokee for Centennial Farms. The four-year-old colt won the Barbaro Stakes at Pimlico Race Course and Northern Dancer Stakes (G3) at Churchill and returned from a long layoff to win an optional claiming race on March 29 at Gulfstream Park in his start before the Alysheba.

Jeff Lowe is a Thoroughbred Times staff writer