Clubhouse Ride is being treated for a low blood cell count following his uncharacteristic last-place finish in the San Diego Handicap (gr. II) July 27 at Del Mar, trainer Craig Lewis said.
"His blood (cell) count was down dramatically," Lewis said Aug. 3. "Low in white cells, low in red cells. I'm pretty sure it impacted his performance in the San Diego."
The cause, Lewis said, could be stomach ulcers.
"Visually, he looks fine," Lewis said of the 5-year-old son of Candy Ride . "The job now is to get him back healthy again. He's on meds and we'll keep testing his blood and treating him."
Clubhouse Ride won the Californian Stakes (gr. II) June 1 following consecutive runner-up finishes to Game On Dude in the San Antonio Stakes (gr. II), Santa Anita Handicap (gr. I), and Charles Town Classic (gr. I).
Following the Californian, he was fourth in the Hollywood Gold Cup (gr. I). Racing for Six-S Racing Stable and Nikolas Petralia, the chestnut horse has won four of 30 starts with 16 placings while earning $989,870.