Trainer Ken McPeek said Oct. 11 that Here Comes Frazier is “doing good” as of late Monday afternoon and in stable condition at Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital near Lexington. The 2-year-old colt was taken to the facility after a racing accident during the stretch run of the Oct. 9 Bourbon Stakes (gr. IIIT) at Keeneland.
Here Comes Frazier had the lead over 11 rivals when he swerved into the rail just before the eighth pole and sent jockey Julien Leparoux into the infield. Leparoux was not seriously hurt, but reported via Twitter he has ligament damage in his right hand. An MRI was scheduled for the evening of Oct. 10 in order to determine the extent of the injury.
McPeek had high hopes for Here Comes Frazier, a son of Badge of Silver who had broken his maiden by seven lengths in his career debut at Arlington Park.
“He is one of the most talented horses I’ve ever had,” McPeek said.
According to Chris Bauer with McPeek Racing, Drs. Alan Ruggles and Larry Bramlage are working as a team to treat the colt.
McPeek was with Here Comes Frazier last night and also again this morning when Bramlage and Ruggles X-rayed the colt's pelvic bone, and found the X-ray to be normal, it was reported in a press release. There were no fractures or breaks of the pelvic bone.
Here Comes Frazier has a comminuted or “multi-piece” fracture of the right hock (tibia bone), not a compound fracture as previously thought. There is also a line on the big bone just below the tibia which is the talus bone. The veterinarians haven't been able to determine if this is a fracture or crack or not. Another X-ray will be taken in a day or so.
Here Comes Frazier was on fluids overnight, but doesn't need them anymore. He is currently being treated with Bute for the control of pain. He suffered a little damage in his short ligament in the hock, but it isn't severe.
Ruggles said the Here Comes Frazier will have surgery for the comminuted fracture in the next week to 10 days. Both he and Bramlage recommended waiting to perform the surgery. They are going to monitor the colt's comfort level for the next 48 hours and evaluate the X-rays on the Talus bone.
McPeek will have an acupuncture specialist work on Here Comes Frazier as well as have a massage therapist work on him daily to help take out any body soreness or bruises.
