NEWS
Stakes winner Runforthemoneybaby fatally injured at Del Mar
Posted: Monday, July 21, 2008 4:02 PM
Runforthemoneybaby, a stakes winner who finished third in the 2007 Oak Leaf Stakes (G1), was euthanized on Sunday after fracturing a sesamoid in a workout on the Polytrack surface at Del Mar.
The Unusual Heat filly out of Andover the Money, by Dynaformer, last raced on July 4 when third on the turf in the Flawlessy Stakes at Hollywood Park for owners Michael Bello, Russ Sarno, and Larry and Marianne Williams.
Runforthemoney became the second horse in three days to suffer a catastrophic injury in a workout over the synthetic Polytrack surface at Del Mar that was tweaked prior to the current live meet.
“She was just breezing,” trainer Jeff Mullins told the North County Times. “She went to switch leads and took a bad step. It was just a freak thing. … I have no concerns about the track.”
Dakota Padre was euthanized on July 18 at Del Mar after fracturing a sesamoid while pulling up from a workout over the Polytrack, the newspaper reported. He had drilled four furlongs in :49.
Del Mar President Joe Harper expressed confidence that the surface is safe after receiving a layer of wax this spring. Del Mar also has begun watering the surface during racing hours.
“I’m concerned about the breakdowns, but I’m not concerned about the track,” Harper said.
Harper said veterinarians had advised him that some sore horses had been shipped down to race at Del Mar.
“[B]ut I wouldn’t put those two horses in that category,” Harper told the newspaper.
Ronforthemoneybaby won the California Cup Juvenile Fillies Stakes by 5 1/2 lengths last November at Oak Tree at Santa Anita after finishing third to Cry and Catch Me in the Oak Leaf. She won two of eight career starts and earned $187,876.
Dakota Padre finished fourth in a six-furlong optional/claiming race on July 3 at Hollywood Park in his final start for owners Curt and Lila Lanning and trainer Ed Moger Jr.
The Game Plan gelding out of Lisbona, by His Majesty, won three of 19 career starts and earned $171,526.
