The two 5-2 co-favorites in the Emirates Airline Breeders’ Cup Distaff (gr. I) both broke down during the running of the race and failed to finish. Phipps Stable’s Pine Island suffered a dislocation of the left front fetlock and was euthanatized shortly after the race. Wayne McIlwraith, BVSc, PhD, Dipl. ACVS, an on-call veterinarian at Churchill Downs, said there were likely multiple fractures and a soft tissue injury involved as well.


“You have a decreased blood supply and an open wound that means contamination,” he noted. Pine Island’s rider, Javier Castellano, was transported to a first aid site ontrack and returned to the jockeys’ room shortly thereafter. He is the jockey of Breeders’ Cup Classic favorite Bernardino.


Fleet Indian, the co-favorite in the Distaff, suffered a lateral condylar fracture that is believed to be repairable, according to McIlwraith. Paul Saylor’s Fleet Indian is scheduled to sell as a broodmare prospect at the Keeneland November sale Monday. McIlwraith said she should be able to assume a broodmare career.