South African champion Ipi Tombe, winner of the Locust Grove Handicap (grade III) at Churchill Downs in her U.S. racing debut, has suffered a minor leg injury that will cause her to miss a planned start in the $500,000 Diana Handicap (gr. I) at Saratoga on July 26.Trainer Elliott Walden said the 5-year-old daughter of Manshood "rapped her leg" during a light three furlong workout on the dirt at Churchill Downs. Walden said the injury occurred on the mare's left front leg and Ipi Tombe had already returned to training, but not in time to make the Diana."She's back in training, but she missed a pivotal work this week so she's not going to run in the Diana," he said. "She's back to the track and everything's fine."The injury occurred during a light drill over the main track on Tuesday, July 8, a training move that was not recorded by clockers at Churchill Downs. Walden said there was filling in the leg immediately after that effort, but it quickly subsided and Ipi Tombe returned to the track for light training on Friday. "I was just cautious with her and we've jogged her for the last few days," he said. "But I can't work her like I wanted to. I wanted to work her today or tomorrow, but we're not going to work her until we get to Saratoga."Now that the Diana is out of Ipi Tombe, Walden said the next target on her revised schedule would be the $700,000 Beverly D. (gr. I) on Aug. 16 at Arlington Park.
Ipi Tombe, owned by Team Valor, WinStar Farm and Sunmark Partners, has won eight consecutive races and has a career record of 12-2-0 in 14 races. Her victory in the $150,000-added Locust Grove on June 28 boosted her career earnings to $1,529,820.