Pegasus contender Leavem In Malibu suffers fatal injury
Royal Ascot winning trainer Mark Casse suffered a major blow when Pegasus World Cup hope Leavem In Malibu broke down in training at Palm Meadowsand could not be saved.
A Group 3 winner last month at Woodbine, the five-year-old son of Malibu Moon was under consideration for the world's richest race, which will be staged for the second time at Gulfstream Park on January 27.
"I'm still in shock about it," said Casse, who brought Tepin over to Ascot to win the Queen Anne Stakes in 2016 and landed the Breeders' Cup Mile last November with World Approval. "It's extremely sad and unfortunate."
Gun Runner is a best-priced 5-6 to add the Pegasus to his resume on what will be a final career start before retiring to stud at Three Chimneys in Kentucky.
The four horses to chase him home in the Breeders' Cup Classic are being aimed at the Pegasus, as is the Jamie Osborne-trained Toast Of New York.
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Published on 11 January 2018inInternational
Last updated 17:39, 11 January 2018
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