Commissioner Sidelined

WinStar Farm's GI Belmont S. runner-up Commissioner (A.P. Indy) will undergo surgery this week to remove a chip found in his left front ankle Monday. The surgery will be performed by Dr. Larry Bramlage at Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital in Lexington, K.Y. 
    “Commissioner was sent back to WinStar Farm on Sunday for a brief freshening before targeting the major late summer 3-year-old races,” said Elliott Walden, WinStar's President & CEO. “The first day back he looked good, but on the second day he had some filling in his left ankle. We took x-rays and discovered he had a small lateral P1 chip that Dr. Bramlage said would be very easy to take out. He'll obviously get the proper recovery time, but there's a good chance Commissioner will be able to return by the fall.” 
    A second out graduate at Saratoga last August, the bay made a name for himself when he narrowly bested J “TDN Rising Star” J Top Billing (Curlin) in a Gulfstream optional claimer Jan. 3. Off the board in the GII Fountain of Youth S. Feb. 22, he was third in the GIII Sunland Derby Mar. 23 and was a non-factor sixth next out in the GI Arkansas Derby Apr. 12. Returning to New York, the Todd Pletcher pupil took a step forward with a runner-up effort behind Tonalist (Tapit) in the GII Peter Pan S. May 10, before being edged out at the wire by that rival in the Belmont June 7. 
    “It's always disappointing when you have a setback with such a talented and improving colt like Commissioner, especially with races like the [GI] Haskell [Invitational July 27] and [GI] Travers [S. Aug. 23] around the corner,” Walden commented. “I believe he was set to have a big summer. But the good news is the chip is in a favorable spot, and we expect him to be back to 100% soon. We've always been very high on Commissioner, and he's only going to continue to get better and better.”

Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.

Copy Article Link

X

Never miss another story from the TDN

Click Here to sign up for a free subscription.