WinStar Farm’s Bluegrass Cat, runner-up in Saturday’s  (Aug. 26) Travers Stakes, was retired Sunday morning after X rays revealed a fractured right hind pastern.

Trainer Todd Pletcher said copies of the X rays will be forwarded to two veterinarians, including Larry Bramlage, DVM, Dipl. ACVS,  of Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital in Lexington, and a decision will be made within 24 hours regarding the need for surgery, which is likely at this point.

“The veterinarian’s impression here was that it would heal on its own, but that doesn’t necessarily mean we’re going to let it heal on its own,” Pletcher said. “Obviously, the first priority is the horse’s health and to make sure he has the speediest recovery possible, but also sometime in February he’s going to be breeding mares, so we want to make sure that everything is healed up as timely as possible.”

Pletcher said the colt’s ankle had been wrapped with a supportive bandage and that he was resting comfortably