Asterisk-wearing Kentucky Derby runner-up and Haskell Stakes winner Mandaloun will miss the remainder of the 2021 season, due to a sore hindfoot.
The Daily Racing Form first reported the news. It quoted Juddmonte Farms racing manager Garrett O’Rourke, who said Mandaloun’s X-rays came back negative for any major damage. He underwent an examination at Saratoga. Juddmonte owns the 3-year-old son of Into Mischief on behalf of the Saudi Royal Family.
O’Rourke told the DRF that Mandaloun will get the next six weeks off. If everything checks out medically, he could come back for late fall races, but O’Rourke said a more realistic target is the 2022 Saudi Cup. O’Rourke told the DRF the Saudi Royal Family wants him in that $20 million race on Feb. 14.
Trainer Brad Cox originally targeted the Aug. 28 Grade 1 Travers Stakes as Mandaloun’s likely next outing. The Sept. 25 Grade 1 Pennsylvania Derby at Parx served as Plan B. Either way, that progression naturally led into the Nov. 6 Breeders’ Cup Classic at Del Mar. Instead, Mandaloun heads to Juddmonte’s Kentucky farm for R&R.
The last time we saw Mandaloun on the track, he was promoted to first in the July 17 Haskell Stakes at Monmouth Park. That came after Hot Rod Charlie, who nipped Mandaloun by a nose in a thrilling finish, was disqualified for interfering with Midnight Bourbon mid-stretch.
Mandaloun tuned up for that race by winning the Listed Pegasus Stakes at Monmouth on June 13. His previous start before that was his Kentucky Derby runner-up finish at 26/1 to Medina Spirit. He could wind up being promoted to first in the Derby if Medina Spirit is disqualified for excessive amounts of the anti-inflammatory betamethasone.
The Bob Baffert charge tested positive for the medication, which is legal, but can’t be in a horse’s system on race day. The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission has yet to overturn the official – for now – results.
Mandaloun hits the shelf with a 5-1-1 record and $1,651,252 in eight starts. The Haskell marked his first Grade 1 victory.
