Force Freeze Bows Tendon in Gulfstream Drill

• Print

Photo: EQUI-PHOTO

Force Freeze

Force Freeze, runner-up in the 2011 Sentient Jet Breeders’ Cup Sprint (gr. I), suffered a bowed tendon on the morning of April 7, Gulfstream Park reported.

The injury was discovered after Saeed Nasser al Romalthi’s 7-year-old gelding worked five furlongs in 1:00 4/5 at Gulfstream, according to trainer Peter Walder.

“He bowed a tendon at the end of his workout this morning, right fore,” said Walder a few hours after the incident. “I’m just sick over it. You wait your whole life for a horse like this and something like this happens. I thought he was the best sprinter in the country. We’ll consider stem cell therapy, give him a year off, and see where he is then.”

A Kentucky-bred son of Forest Camp, Force Freeze finished second by a neck to Amazombie in the $1.5 million Breeders’ Cup Sprint on Nov. 5 at Churchill Downs. Force Freeze was a finalist for an Eclipse Award as the nation's top sprinter, which was won by Amazombie.

Force Freeze came back with an impressive 3 3/4-length victory in the Gulfstream Sprint Championship (gr. II) on Feb. 19. He was being pointed to a start next in the Churchill Downs Stakes (gr. II) on the Kentucky Derby undercard May 5.

• Print