Whadjathink rested comfortably Sunday night after suffering a fracture of the cannon bone and a broken sesamoid in his left hind leg Sunday at Arlington.
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”His racing days are over,” trainer Mike Whittingham said. ”We`re hoping this isn`t life-threatening. These types of injuries are very serious, and some horses can`t come back from them. We`ll have to wait and see what the experts say about his chances for recovery, but I have a feeling he`ll be able to come back from this and retire to stud.”
Whadjathink turned in a sterling performance to beat statebreds by 3 1/4 lengths in the John D. Hertz Stakes Sunday. He won the biggest race of his career in the Grade II Arlington Classic June 22. He also won the Grade III Spotlight Breeder`s Cup Handicap on the Hollywood Park turf May 4.
It was originally thought Dick Duchossois` game runner was hurt after the race.
”There`s no telling if the injury occurred during the race or after he crossed the wire,” Whittingham said. ”It`s the kind of thing people will talk about until they`re blue in the face. The injury could have been a stress fracture that no one ever knew about.”
Broken records? Gosox will aim at several records when in the $15,000 Incredible Finale Pace Tuesday at Balmoral.
”Balmoral has had some fast times over their mile track,” trainer Roger Waddell said. ”I`m shipping him there to see how fast he can go.”
The 4-year-old two-time Illinois champion has earned $501,506 in his career. He has a lifetime best time of 1:55.
Brooklets Roswell will provide a fast pace for Gosox to run at. The frontrunner won by seven lengths in 1:53 4/5 in his most recent Balmoral start.
Master Shawn recently paced the fastest mile in the 46-year history of Chicago harness racing, 1:52 3/5.
Kissin Prince set the all-time mark for an Illinois-bred when he won in 1:51 2/5 on the East Coast this year. Beach Towel paced the fastest mile in Illinois history with a 1:50 at the DuQuoin State Fair last year.
Trot off: Gumcorner Lad and Fox Valley Emperor head the divisions in two elimination heats at Sportsman`s Wednesday. The races will decide the field for the $130,000 Su Mac Lad Stake July 31, the top annual test for Illinois 3- year-old trotters.
Gumcorner Lad goes into the first division on a five-race winning streak. The sophomore won the Cardinal Stake at Sportsman`s June 12.
Fox Valley Emperor, second in the Cardinal, and Federal Arsenal, last year`s 2-year-old champ, head the field for the second heat.
Purse hike: Arlington raised overnight purses nine percent Friday. All told, Arlington has increased its purse outlay 20 percent since opening day May 12.