Multiple Grade 1 winner Jackson Bend was
involved in a mishap Saturday morning on the Oklahoma training track at Saratoga Race
Course, but appears to have sustained no serious injuries.
“Jackson [Bend]
and [exercise rider] Carlos [Correa] were going on their normal morning gallop,
and another horse came on at the gap and ran right into him,” said Hall
of Fame trainer Nick Zito, who added that Correa was uninjured in the collision.
“I didn’t see it. Thank God I didn’t see it.
“He was laying on the track for close to five minutes – he
was just in shock. He went back to the barn in the ambulance, and we started
giving him fluids right away. All the vital signs were fine. It’s a
miracle.”
After being taken back to the barn, Jackson Bend, a 5-year-old horse
owned by Robert LaPenta and Fred Brei with earnings of more than $1.6 million,
was examined by Dr. Joe Migliacci.
“When I got to the barn, Jackson Bend was standing in the
ambulance, and we backed him out slowly,” Migliacci said. “There
were no signs of lameness, but he was very quiet. That was alarming as he is
usually a very active, aggressive horse. On examination, I couldn’t tell
which side he was hit on, which is a good sign. He was hit on the right side.
He then walked the shedrow, and while he did it slowly, he was walking fine. I
found no fractured ribs or damage to his shoulder area, but his heart rate was
up. I think he got the air knocked out of him. My main concern was that he
might have a lung contusion or trauma to his lungs from the blow, but we
wouldn’t be able to find that out for a while.
“I went back to the barn shortly after the initial examination,
and he was hollering for food and acting normal. He took eight liters of fluids
that have electrolytes, which is the same way you would treat a person in
shock. Within 15 minutes of delivering the fluid his eyes got brighter, his
heart rate came down, and he seemed to do fine. Listening to him, he sounded
nice and clear. I think he’s a tough guy.
“My general opinion is that he is going to do well. We will
continue to monitor him for the next number of days,” Migliacci said.
Jackson Bend has been pointing to a title defense of the Grade 1, $500,000
Forego on Saturday, September 1, but those plans may have to be altered.
“Let’s see what happens the next couple of days,”
Zito said. “The main thing is we need to get him back to normal. He is an
amazing, amazing, amazing horse, and this proves how amazing he is.”
The horse that collided with
Jackson Bend was Little Nick, a 7-year-old gelding trained by Anthony
Quartarolo.
“He walked onto the track,
was spooked by something, and bolted,” Quartarolo said. “He grazed
Jackson Bend, and fortunately the rider was able to stay on board and Little
Nick is fine. He did not sustain any injuries.”