Ema Bovary, a multiple stakes winner of $721,642 and one of the nation's top female sprinters, sustained an ankle injury while working at Golden Gate Fields Saturday morning and is through racing.
"She suffered some ligament strains in her left front ankle," said Dr. Steve Boyer, the veterinarian who cares for Ema Bovary. "There was no fracture. It's serious but she should recover quickly. This injury usually takes four to six months to heal."
Ema Bovary, a 6-year-old mare bred in Chile, worked five furlongs in 1:00 1/5 handily under jockey Roberto Gonzalez but was pulled up while galloping out. Gonzalez quickly jumped off her and Ema Bovary was walked off the track."For her it's the end (of her racing career)," said trainer Larry Ross. "She's going to be bred. With a regular horse, you could bring them back in four months or so. But why try to bring her back? She's worth too much as a broodmare.
"She never really had any problems," Ross continued. "It was just one of those deals. That's horse racing. She's doing OK. She still has her appetite. She ate an orange. She is a little upset though."
Ema Bovary had 13 wins and three seconds in 19 career starts, including nine stakes victories in the U.S. She scored her biggest win in her final race – the $500,000 Princess Rooney Handicap (gr. II) at Calder Race Course in Florida on July 10. Ema Bovary won the six-furlong Princess Rooney by two lengths over odds-on favorite Bear Fan in 1:10.81. Lady Tak, a grade I winner, finished third. Gonzalez said the injury occurred when Ema Bovary was galloping out after her work.
"She changed leads at the seven-eighths (pole) and bobbled and then bobbled really bad the next step and I pulled her up," Gonzalez said.
"She went out a winner and it was a great ride," said Ross. "She's the best horse I've ever trained. It was a really fun ride."
Ross said Ema Bovary will be going to a farm in Kentucky as soon as she is well enough to travel. Richard T. Beal Jr. and Lana Ramsey-Borg own her.