A Little Warm, winner of the July 31 Jim Dandy Stakes (gr. II) at Saratoga, suffered condylar fractures to both front legs Oct. 21 and will most likely be retired from racing, his connections told the Daily Racing Form Oct. 22. A Little Warm was being pointed to the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (gr. I) at Churchill Downs Nov. 6.
Chris Baker, racing and farm manager for owner/breeder Edward P. Evans, told the DRF A Little Warm suffered the fractures during a routine gallop at Delaware Park Oct. 22 where he was based with trainer Tony Dutrow. Baker said if the injury had happened during a workout or a race, the situation could have been much worse.
A Little Warm underwent surgery Oct. 22 at the New Bolton clinic in Pennsylvania, where veterinarians Michael Ross and David Levine inserted screws to stabilize the injuries. Baker said following the surgery Dr. Ross told him the damage done to A Little Warm's right fetlock would make it unlikely that he could return to the stakes-winning form he displayed during his 3-year-old season.
"Based on that, if we had to make the decision today, it'd be unlikely he'd return to racing," Baker told the DRF. "We'd be looking to retire the horse and would be seeking outside interests to stand him at stud."
"It's unfortunate timing," Baker added. "We thought the horse was hitting his best stride."
A Little Warm, a 3-year-old son of Stormin Fever out of the Alydar mare Minidar, has a career record of 4-4-1 from 11 starts, for earnings of $752,280. In addition to the Jim Dandy, he also won the Jan. 9 Spectacular Bid Stakes at Gulfstream Park and finished second in this year’s Louisiana Derby and Hutcheson Stakes (both gr. II), and third in the Pennsylvania Derby (gr. II).
