Injury puts Cross Traffic out of Breeders' Cup

By: SPORTS NETWORK

Elmont, NY (SportsNetwork.com) - Whitney Handicap winner Cross Traffic has suffered a minor leg injury that will prevent him from competing in next month's $5 million Breeders' Cup Classic.

Owned by GoldMark Farm and trained by Todd Pletcher, the 4-year-old apparently was injured during the running of the $1 million Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont Park last Saturday.

"It is very unfortunate for this to happen at this time of the year because this will prevent him from competing in the G1 Breeders' Cup Classic," said Todd Quast, GoldMark Farm's General Manager. "We will bring him back to GoldMark to evaluate him and based on those findings make decisions regarding his future."

Ridden by Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez, Cross Traffic has raced just six times in a career that begin on Jan. 24. He won his first two career starts at Gulfstream Park. The gray colt then finished second in both the Westchester Handicap and Met Mile at Belmont Park.

He entered the top rank of thoroughbreds on Aug. 3 at Saratoga with a three- quarter length victory in the Whitney over Successful Dan along with Breeders' Cup Classic winner Fort Larned and Classic runner-up Mucho Macho Man.

Cross Traffic has earned $687,967 with three wins and two seconds from six starts.