Life At Ten, the Malibu Moon mare who finished 11th and last in the Nov. 5 Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic (gr. I), will be withdrawn from the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky November sale.
Trainer Todd Pletcher the 5-year-old mare owned by Candy DeBartolo would be taken out of the Three Chimneys consignment to the Nov. 7 sale until she recovers from whatever caused her inexplicable performance in the Ladies Classic.
A spokeswoman for Three Chimneys confirmed that Life At Ten, cataloged as a racing or broodmare prospect, would not go through the sale, and that options for the mare’s future were being considered.
"She is fine today. She had a classic ‘tie-up’ situation," Pletcher said the morning of Nov. 6.
Pletcher said veterinarians who examined Life At Ten said she is fine. He said they theorized the mare had an electrolyte imbalance caused by an injection of Lasix she was given prior to the race.
"She was borderline sub-clinical before the race," Pletcher said. "I thought she was quiet in the paddock, which seemed to be different but she seemed to be moving fine.
"I've said it before--you stay in the game long enough (and) you see everything happen. You can add that to one to the list of new ones I've seen."
Pletcher said he did not discuss Life At Ten’s status with the state vet prior to the Classic, and that he believed jockey John Velazquez did not have similar discussions.
Life at Ten won the Beldame Stakes and Ogden Phipps Handicap (both gr. I), and won six races in a row last year and this year.