High Fly was one of five horses Zito saddled in this year's Kentucky Derby (gr. I) for five different owners. The winner of the Florida Derby (gr. I) finished 10th in the Derby, beaten less than eight lengths. He ran 10th in the Preakness and was then away from the races for four months, returning to run second in the Jerome Handicap (gr. II).
High Fly was injured at Belmont Park Saturday morning and will miss the Oct. 29 Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships. He was to have started in the TVG Sprint (gr. I).The 3-year-old Atticus colt, bred and owned by Charlotte Weber's Live Oak Plantation, worked four furlongs Saturday morning in :48 and back at the barn later was found to have suffered a condylar fracture of his right front leg."It is similar to the one Afleet Alex had," Zito said. "We are sending him to the New Jersey Equine Clinic tomorrow (Sunday) morning. It is a non-displaced fracture. It didn't go all the way through. We're optimistic he'll be back next year."High Fly will have two screws inserted in the leg and when safe to travel, will be sent to Weber's Florida farm.Zito said he sent High Fly out early and the dogs were up. "We had a good path; First Samurai (one of the favorite's for the Juvenile, gr. I) worked after we did. Then it started raining and they canceled the rest of the works for the morning."It is really a shame. He was going really good. Mrs. Weber took it good as usual. She doesn't point any fingers and realizes this is part of the game."I called Jerry (jockey Jerry Bailey). He has been good to us. He has stuck with the horse. I called him in the jock's room around noon to tell him."Bailey has switched to ride Roman Ruler for trainer Bob Baffert in the Sprint.
