With Anticipation tore a tendon below his left front ankle in 2003 and raced just three times last season. "I'm very sorry this has happened," added Sheppard. "I'm certainly glad we found it in the stall and not coming down the stretch. Perhaps this is God's way of telling us the hold horse needed to hang it up."With Anticipation raced once this year, finishing third to Del Mar Show in an allowance contest. In 2002 he captured three grade I turf contests--the Sword Dancer Invitational, Man O' War Stakes, and United Nations Handicap. He also captured the Sword Dancer and United Nations in 2001. The gray fan favorite, a son of Relaunch, has won 15 of 38 career starts and earned $2,660,543.
With Anticipation, winner of three consecutive grade I contests in 2002, has re-aggravated a tendon injury and could be retired.The 9-year-old gelding was slated to run in Sunday's Gulfstream Park Breeders' Cup Handicap (gr. IT), but trainer Jonathan Sheppard found the tendon problem after a morning workout Thursday, in which With Anticipation covered five furlongs in 1:00.3/5. Sheppard did not officially announce With Anticipation's retirement, preferring to confer first with the owners of the horse, Augustin Stable. "His groom noticed the horse was uncomfortable," said Sheppard. "He seemed to come out of his workout okay, but there was some sensitivity there and it appears he's aggravated an old injury."
