Klaravich Stables and William H. Lawrence’s undefeated 2-year-old Currency Swap , winner of the Three Chimney's Hopeful (gr. I) at Saratoga and a leading contender for next month’s Grey Goose Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (gr. I), will be forced to miss the race due to a recently-discovered ankle injury, according to trainer Terri Pompay.
“He has a small P-1 flake in his left front ankle,” Pompay said. “He worked last weekend and came back a little grouchy. My exercise rider could feel something wasn’t right, so we X-rayed it and found the flake.”
Currency Swap will be sent to surgeon John Madison in Ocala for a procedure to remove the flake before spending about 60 days on the farm.
“We felt like we could have continued on to the Breeders’ Cup but after talking to the owners, we decided this was the best thing to do,” Pompay said. “We’ll take the flake out and point to the Fountain of Youth and Florida Derby. This was an agonizing decision, but we felt it was the best thing to do for the horse.”
Currency Swap, a sophomore colt by High Cotton out of the Pine Bluff mare Echo Bluff, captured his debut by six lengths on Aug. 6 at Saratoga before going on to win the Hopeful.
“It’s disappointing because I truly believe that this is a special horse,” Pompay said. “There’s no doubt in my mind that if he was 100% he could win the Juvenile. He won the Hopeful, he’s undefeated; he did his job for this year. We’ll give him the time he needs and come back with a really neat horse for next year.”
Currency Swap, who has been stabled at Monmouth Park since May, will van to Ocala on Oct. 15.
