NEWS
Miner’s Reserve out indefinitely with knee injury
Posted: Monday, August 30, 2010 3:41 PM
by Phil Janack
Miner’s Reserve, who faded to seventh after setting the pace in the $1-million Travers Stakes (G1) on Sunday at Saratoga Race Course, probably will miss the rest of the year with a knee injury.
Racing Hall of Fame trainer Nick Zito said on Monday morning that X-rays revealed the damage, which they initially believed to be a severely bruised right front foot.
“Unfortunately, it’s worse than we thought,” Zito said. “Friday night, when we checked him out, his legs were cold. After he ran, he got a little short walking, and we thought it was the foot, for sure. We put the foot testers on him and he jumped.
“Yesterday, he didn’t get any better. His legs were ice cold and when we X-rayed him; he’s got a line in his knee. He’ll be out a few months.”
Zito said that Miner’s Reserve will heal with time and will not require surgery.
Second behind A Little Warm in the $500,000 Jim Dandy Stakes (G2) on July 31 at Saratoga, the three-year-old Mineshaft colt set the pace through fractions of :23.42, :47.25, and 1:11.39 in the Travers, taking the lead into midstretch.
Miner’s Reserve was one of two Zito-trained, Robert LaPenta-owned horses in the Travers along with Florida Derby (G1) winner Ice Box. The presence of other speed horses and the 1 ¼-mile distance both were question marks going into the race.
“He probably got a little tired,” Zito said. “He ran his guts out.”
Phil Janack is a New York-based Thoroughbred Times correspondent
