Injured Sharp Performance Recuperating

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Photo: AP/ NYRA/ Adam Coglianese

Sharp Performance, winning the grade III Lexington Stakes.

The racing career of William Bloom's Sharp Performance, who suffered severe soft tissue damage to both front legs in Saturday's Fort Marcy (gr. IIIT) at Aqueduct, is over. "He's definitely through," reported trainer David Donk. "His career is over. It's a question of trying to save him for stud."

The four-year-old son of Kris S. is stabilized and resting in Donk's Belmont Park barn. However, Donk remains cautious in his assessment of the colt. "He's a long way from being out of the woods. We'll have to see how the next 24 to 48 hours go," said Donk.

The trainer credits jockey John Velazquez, who wrapped up on the colt in mid-stretch, with saving Sharp Performance. "He saved him to this point. Johnnie said, 'The horse wanted to run,'" stated Donk.

Sharp Performance was making his belated, seasonal debut after losing two weeks of training due to a fever. Last year, the colt captured the Lawrence Realization Handicap (gr. IIIT) and The Lexington (gr. IIIT), both at Belmont Park. He ends his career with four victories from seven starts, and career earnings of $279,780.

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