Afleet Alex a no-go for Breeders Cup

By: SPORTS NETWORK

Elmont, NY (Sports Network) - Preakness and Belmont Stakes winner Afleet Alex will not race in the upcoming Breeders' Cup Classic, according to a statement released by the three-year-old star's connections on Monday.

The colt is still recovering from surgery performed in July to repair a fractured cannon bone on his left front foot. Although he resumed training with a resounding workout earlier this month, trainer Tim Ritchey and veterinarian Patricia Hogan stated that they don't want to test him yet at this point.

"We feel it is in Alex's best interests to miss the Breeders' Cup races," a statement on Afleet Alex's web site read. "Unfortunately, the timing is just a little too close to demand the enormous athletic effort that would be required to race at that elite level of competition."

Afleet Alex hasn't raced since his impressive seven-length triumph in the Belmont on June 11. He returned to training with a scorching five-furlong drill at Belmont Park on October 1, which had Ritchey encouraged that his prized horse would be able to run in a prep race for the October 29 Classic at Belmont.

Two weeks before his Belmont win, Afleet Alex won the Preakness at Pimlico by 4 3/4 lengths. He finished third in this year's Kentucky Derby.