Protagonus

[Swaps1955]

Does anyone have any information on Protagonus, who broke down in the Derby Trial yesterday and was vanned to Lexington for surgery? I emailed Churchill Downs but haven't heard anything.

[LaTroienne]

The Nick Zito-trained Protagonus, vanned off following the race, set solid fractions of :23 and :46 while under pressure from both Spotsgone on his outside and R Loyal Man at the rail. He was shipped to an equine clinic in Lexington for testing.

Here: http://tcm.bloodhorse.com/viewstory.asp?id=33295

So, I'm guessing he's tested.

[Swaps1955]

Thanks! Hope he's ok. Haven't read/heard anything yet, so maybe that's a good sign--at least temporarily.

[StrawberryFelidos]

On the finalturngallery board they are saying that he broke his leg Nobody there has heard how he's doing, though.

http://finalturn.com/forum/index.php?topic=19667.0

[Swaps1955]

Thanks. I read that, too. It didn't look very good for him, but at least he didn't go down and they must have thought they had a chance if they took him for surgery. He was doing so well when he broke down.

[Tairaterces]

From T-Times:

"The race was marred when Kinsman Stable's Protagonus broke down on the turn. The Salt Lake colt is a winner of two of four career starts for trainer Nick Zito. He is out of the multiple stakes winner If Liloy, by Liloy (Fr).

"The horse is on his way to Rood & Riddle [Equine Hospital] in Lexington," said Dr. Nancy Davis, chief veterinarian at Churchill. "We think he has at least one fractured sesamoid, but we did not X-ray him because we did not want to unload him. We shipped him straight to the surgery without risking further damage by unloading him, taking the splint off, and reloading him." "

[sunday_silence]

ESPN board rumor is that he is expected to live, but his career is obviously over.

[Shammy Davis]

The jockey saved this horse's life. John Mckee pulled him up quickly and safely. I think the horse was in the lead when he broke down. Hope all goes with him.