Johar Sidelined with Shoulder Injury

The Thoroughbred Corp.'s Johar, who won the thrilling San Marcos Stakes (gr. IIT) on Jan. 20 at Santa Anita, will be out of action for at least 90 days after suffering a stress fracture of the shoulder, trainer Richard Mandella revealed Sunday.

The 4-year-old son of Gone West and the top racemare Windsharp is currently at his owner's farm in Bradbury, Calif., where he'll be on complete rest, which was ordered by Mandella's veterinarian.

A nuclear scan detected the fracture to Johar just a couple days after the colt won the 1 1/4-mile San Marcos in heroic fashion, closing from far back to catch The Tin Man and Grammarian by a head at the wire. Because he was showing some pain, he never returned to the track to resume training. According to Mandella, the injury is only a setback and not career threatening thanks to its early detection.

While Mandella said he is disappointed, he's also encouraged about Johar's future.

"Yeah it's sad, isn't it?" Mandella said. "I hate to see him leave the barn, but hopefully he won't be gone long. We've got a long year ahead of us, so we'll just get him ready for the bigger races in the fall. The Breeders' Cup is a long way off."

Johar, who won the Hollywood Derby (gr. IT) and Oak Tree Derby (gr. IIT) before winning the San Marcos in his 4-year-old debut, also earned placings in the Will Rogers Handicap (gr. IIIT), Cinema Breeders' Cup Handicap (gr. IIIT), Del Mar Derby (gr. IIT) and Oceanside Stakes. Overall he's banked $672,215 from a career line of 12-5-3-1.