Leg injury ends Arkansas Derby winner Magnum Moon's career

The fate of Arkansas Derby and Rebel Stakes winner Magnum Moon was in the hands of equine specialists after the colt sustained a "career-ending" injury Saturday at New York's Belmont Park.

"We're basically playing the waiting game," said Jacob West, bloodstock agent and racing manager for owners Robert and Lawana Low. "Surgery -- if it's going to happen, when it's going to happen -- we just don't know yet."

West told Bloodhorse.com that Magnum Moon was injured after a timed workout on the training track at Belmont, and that it was a "structural injury" to one of the colt's front legs.

Magnum Moon won four out of five starts and earned $1,177,800, giving trainer Todd Pletcher a record fifth Arkansas Derby (Grade 1) victory April 14 at Oaklawn Park. The Malibu Moon colt then finished 19th in the 20-horse Kentucky Derby May 5 at Churchill Downs.

Pletcher was not available for comment Saturday afternoon.

The Lows, longtime Oaklawn patrons from Springfield, Mo., bought Magnum Moon for $380,000 at the September 2016 Keeneland yearling sale in Lexington, Ky. The Kentucky-bred colt was produced by the Unbridled's Song mare Dazzling Song.

Unraced as a 2-year-old, Magnum Moon started his career in January at Gulfstream Park and won again in Florida before shipping to Oaklawn and winning the Grade 2 Rebel March 17. He was the first horse since American Pharoah in 2015 to pair victories in Oaklawn's two major Triple Crown preps. Magnum Moon was one of four Pletcher-trained colts in Kentucky Derby 144.

"It's a total kick in the gut," West said on Bloodhorse.com. "He's such a cool horse and took the Lows on a ride they haven't been on in a long time. I know it's a factor of the business, but when it's your horse, it really hits home. It's a shame."

* After sitting out the spring classics, Core Beliefs took Saturday's Grade 2 $500,000 Ohio Derby by a nose over Triple Crown veteran Lone Sailor. Trigger Warning placed third with Oaklawn winner Title Ready fourth of 11 3-year-olds starting.

A Quality Road colt trained by Peter Eurton and ridden by Joe Talamo, Core Beliefs paid $7.60, $3.80 and $3.20 after a fast-rated nine furlongs in 1:51.08. The bay colt came off a second to Belmont Stakes starter Blended Citizen in Belmont Park's Grade 3 Peter Pan May 12. Core Beliefs' only other victory from six starts is in a March maiden race at Santa Anita Park in California.

Lone Sailor, trained by Tom Amoss, placed eighth in the Kentucky Derby and fifth (beaten two lengths by Justify) in the May 19 Preakness.

Sports on 06/24/2018

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