Grade II Winner Puzzlement Dead

Puzzlement, a multiple graded stakes winner as a homebred for Joseph V. Shields Jr., was euthanized June 16 at Palm Beach Equine near West Palm Beach, Fla., because of a tendon infection. The infection surfaced shortly after the 5-year-old son of Pine Bluff ran fourth in the Donn Handicap (gr. I) in February at Gulfstream Park.

Trained by Allen Jerkens, Puzzlement won six of 22 starts and earned $717,590. He captured last year's Saratoga Breeders' Cup Handicap (gr. II) over Volponi and the Hal's Hope Handicap (gr. III) at Gulfstream in his first start this year. His four stakes-placings came in grade I or grade II events.

Puzzlement's dam, Taine (by Sir Ivor), is kept at Leverett Miller's T-Square Stud near Fairfield, Fla., where Puzzlement is buried. Taine produced a War Chant colt this year and is in foal to him. Puzzlement's 3-year-old half-sister, Honor Point, has won two of four starts this year for Shields and Jerkens.