Caixa Eletronica dies from training injuries

By: SPORTS NETWORK

Elmont, NY (SportsNetwork.com) - Stakes winning thoroughbred Caixa Eletronica died Saturday morning after suffering injuries during training at Belmont Park.

Trained by Todd Pletcher and owned by Mike Repole, Caixa Eletronica collided with another horse when galloping on Belmont Park's training track. Six Drivers had been running loose after unseating his rider, Julio Pezua. Carlos Castro was aboard Caixa Eletronica.

Caixa Eletronica died from a fractured skull and Six Drivers suffered a fractured neck and died immediately. Castro was taken to North Shore University Hospital in Manhasset, N.Y. for evaluation. Pezua suffered no apparent injuries.

"It's a terrible day for racing," said Repole. "For any horse, it's horrible. When you hear it's Caixa Eletronica, it's magnified.

"He was such an iron horse. For him to pass away like this makes no sense. I told Todd, 'If this horse ever gets a pimple on his rear, I'll retire him.' Todd said, 'I wish my 2-year-olds and 3-year-olds were super sound like this horse.'"

Caixa Eletronica won 23 of 69 starts and $1,863,505. The 9-year-old won the 2011 Westchester Handicap and one year later won the $1 million Charles Town Classic. Also in 2012, Caixa Eletronica won the True North and Fall Highweight Handicaps. His only stakes victory in 2013 came in the Duck Dance Stakes at Belmont Park on Oct. 6. His last start was in the Fall Highweight Handicap on Thanksgiving Day when he finished fourth.