Monday, April 1, 2019
ARMS RUNNER TAKES BAD STEP ITS NOT THE TRACK
The first stakes win for Law Abidin Citizen was marred March 31 when two horses fell in the $100,000 San Simeon Stakes (G3T), run at about 6 1/2 furlongs over Santa Anita Park's downhill turf course.
The incident occurred when Arms Runner was crossing the dirt course from the hill to Santa Anita's grass stretch. The chart noted, "Arms Runner came out some leaving the hill, took a bad step on the dirt crossing, appeared injured and fell, then was vanned off." La Sardane tripped over the fallen runner but stood up quickly and did not appear to have any serious injuries.
Dr. Rick Arthur, equine medical director for the California Horse Racing Board, confirmed Arms Runner was euthanized after the accident. The 5-year-old gelding is the 23rd horse to be fatally injured while racing or training at Santa Anita since the meet started Dec. 26. He won the 2017 Desert Code Stakes at Santa Anita and entered the San Simeon off a Jan. 27 optional-claiming allowance victory.
Santa Anita resumed racing March 29 following a closure of the track to investigate the dirt surface dating to March 3.
Arms Runner's jockey, Martin Pedroza, continued to ride his remaining mounts, while Ruben Fuentes aboard La Sardane took off for the rest of Sunday's card. Joel Rosario was originally assigned the mount on La Sardane, but he rode on the Dubai World Cup card March 30.
Santa Anita issued the following statement after the race:
"Arms Runner sustained a fatal injury during the San Simeon Stakes today. He was racing over the 6 1/2-furlong hillside turf course this afternoon when, at the dirt crossing, he fell and collided with another horse, La Sardane. La Sardane was walked back to her barn under her own power with no reported injuries. Both jockeys, Martin Pedroza, who rode Arms Runner, and Ruben Fuentes, who rode La Sardane, were examined by on-site medical experts and released from first aid.
"While this incident happened during competition on a track that has been deemed by independent experts to be safe, we are working closely with the CHRB to understand if there was anything additional that we could have done to prevent today's tragedy. Today's incident speaks to the larger issue of catastrophic injuries in horse racing that The Stronach Group, together with our industry stakeholders, are working to solve throughout California and across the country."
Able to avoid trouble in the San Simeon, Law Abidin Citizen rushed from fourth under jockey Tiago Pereira and hit the wire in 1:11.21. The 5-year-old Twirling Candy gelding finished one length in front of Cistron, followed by Mesut, Air Vice Marshal, and Conquest Tsunami.
Conquest Tsunami, the 1-2 favorite after winning the Jan. 27 Clocker's Corner Stakes, took the lead from the rail and set fractions of :20.72 and :42.50 through the first half-mile before fading.
Law Abidin Citizen, off at odds of 6-1, improved to 5-2-4 from 19 starts, with earnings of $298,665 for owners Dan Agnew, Gerry Schneider, and John Xitco. Trainer Mark Glatt purchased him for $100,000 from Hill 'n' Dale Sales Agency's consignment to the 2015 Keeneland September Yearling Sale.
Law Abidin Citizen is the chief earner from seven starters out of the grade 3-placed Tale of the Cat mare Honest Answer, who also foaled this year's Forward Gal Stakes (G3) winner Feedback, by Violence . Honest Answer is currently in foal to Street Sense .
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