Sep 24, 2010
Afleet Express shelved for rest of year
By: SPORTS NETWORK
Elmont, NY (Sports Network) - Travers Stakes winner Afleet Express has been taken out of training for the remainder of the year due to a ligament tear. Trainer Jimmy Jerkens said Wednesday that the three-year-old colt has a small tear in the upper suspensory ligament of his left foreleg.
"He's not lame," Jerkens said, "he never took a bad step. It's just a little tear, and we probably got it in time so there was no real lasting damage. It's disappointing because he was in great shape, but we want to have him back as a four-year-old, so we won't go on this year."
Afleet Express, ridden by Javier Castellano, edged Fly Down to capture the $1 million Travers at Saratoga Race Course on August 28. Sent off at 7-1 he ran the 1 1/4-miles in 2:03.28 on a fast track.
Owned by Gainesway Stable and Martin Cherry, the son of 2005 champion three- year-old Afleet Alex has career earnings of $835,140 with four wins in seven lifetime starts. .
Afleet Express was third in Saratoga's Jim Dandy Stakes and won the Pegasus Stakes at Monmouth Park in June. The injury will force him to miss the Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont on October 2.
Jerkens indicated the colt will be rested for 90 days and return to training in early 2011 in Florida.
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