Grade I winner Dance With Fate was euthanized after sustaining a serious injury July 24 when he bolted and crashed into a fence while on the track at Del Mar prepping for the upcoming San Diego Handicap (gr. II).
According to Del Mar Thoroughbred Club publicity, Dance With Fate was on the track at approximately 5:30 a.m. PDT nearing the far turn when he suddenly bolted to the outside fence and crashed into it, falling hard and losing exercise rider Joe Durant. Durant was taken by ambulance to Scripps La Jolla Hospital with unknown injuries.
The colt was removed from the track by ambulance and returned to trainer Peter Eurton's Del Mar barn where he was attended to by veterinarians for an apparent injury to his right rear leg. But efforts to save the 3-year-old colt were unsuccessful.
"With an extremely heavy heart we report Dance With Fate was unable to survive his injuries," Eurton said in a Twitter announcement. "Words can't express what we're feeling right now. Thank you for all of the support during a rough time like this. The joy he gave us will never be forgotten."
The son of Two Step Salsa who won the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (gr. I) earlier this year was the likely favorite against older horses in the 1 1/16-mile San Diego July 26.
"I don't know exactly how it happened or why," said Eurton. "He tore some ligaments pretty severely in behind (in his right rear leg)."
Owned by Sharon Alesia, Bran Jam Stable, and Ciaglia Racing, Dance With Fate had three wins, three seconds in nine lifetime races, and earnings of $680,050. After breaking his maiden at Del Mar as a 2-year-old, the colt finished second in the Del Mar Futurity and Frontrunner Stakes, both grade I, before an unplaced effort in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (gr. I).
Previous to his Blue Grass win at Keeneland, Dance With Fate was an allowance winner on turf and second in the El Camino Real Derby (gr. III). He finished sixth in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) in his most recent start.
Dance With Fate had been entered in the Belmont Derby (gr. IT) July 5 at Belmont Park, but scratched on the eve of the 1 1/4-mile race after a bout with colic.
In preparation for the San Diego, he worked a bullet five furlongs in :58 2/5 at Del Mar July 19.