Grade 3 winner and twin grade 1 positioned Gosger is recovering from surgical procedure to restore a career-ending harm sustained throughout a morning exercise April 24 at Churchill Downs, proprietor Scott Clarke mentioned.
Clarke mentioned the 2025 Lexington Stakes (G3) winner and Preakness Stakes (G1) and Haskell Stakes (G1) runner-up broke each sesamoids in his proper entrance leg. The sesamoids, which sit on the again of the fetlock, anchor the suspensory equipment that permits a horse’s foot and fetlock to maneuver correctly. Due to their location and anatomy, the accidents may be troublesome to restore and even catastrophic, in keeping with the UC Davis Weill College of Veterinary Medication web site.
Following the harm, Gosger was despatched to Kentucky Equine Hospital in Shelby County, Ky., the place Dr. Wes Sutter accomplished a fusion surgical procedure.
Regardless of the life-threatening nature of the harm, Clarke mentioned doing every little thing potential to avoid wasting Gosger’s life was by no means a query. Clarke, his mom, Donna, and their household race as Harvey A. Clarke Racing Stables in honor of his late father, Harvey Clarke, who died in 2019.
Gosger stems from one in all Harvey Clarke’s most profitable households. His dam, Gloria S, is a half sister to 2012 Kentucky Derby (G1) and Preakness Stakes (G1) winner I am going to Have One other , who was additionally bred by Harvey. Gosger’s half sister, Harvey’s Lil Goil , took the 2020 Queen Elizabeth II Problem Cup Stakes (G1T) at Keeneland only a yr after Harvey’s passing.
READ: Gosger Carries Clarke Legacy Again to Triple Crown
That household connection made the Clarke’s wish to pay again Gosger for all the enjoyment he introduced the household final yr competing on racing’s highest degree, giving him an opportunity to beat the percentages.
“All of them deserve each probability, however he deserves even additional,” Clarke mentioned. (Gosger) is as necessary because it will get. We’re not a big operation, we’ve a small string of horses. So to have a horse of his potential is difficult to exchange.”
The surgical procedure went effectively and Gosger was in good spirits the morning of April 28, with Clarke reporting he was “brilliant, alert, and consuming effectively.”
Ought to all go effectively over the following few days, Clarke mentioned it’s anticipated that Gosger would spend about two weeks within the hospital earlier than the solid comes off.
“From there, it will be months of podiatry,” Clarke mentioned.
Fortunately for Clarke, Gosger’s character and intelligence ought to assist assist his restoration.
“One thing that is going to actually assist him out with that is he is all the time had a extremely good mind, and he is a peaceful and funky man,” Clarke mentioned. “He is not a high-strung horse that is going to do one thing silly. He is been a very good affected person, acquired proper up, and went proper to the hay bag.”
Educated by Brendan Walsh, the son of Nyquist raced to a document of 2-4-1 from 9 begins for earnings of $960,865.
