Foot problem returns for Rockport
Posted on Tuesday, March 14, 2006
Rockport Harbor’s racing career is in jeopardy after he reinjured his right hind foot during a fifth-place finish in the $ 150, 000 Grade III Razorback Breeders’ Cup Handicap for older horses Sunday afternoon at Oaklawn Park.
Trainer John Servis said the colt’s foot has separated again, splitting where the old scar tissue was.
Rockport Harbor’s latest setback is related to having the back of his right hind foot severely gashed during a victory in the Grade II Remsen Stakes in November 2004.
“Actually, you can see into the hoof,” Servis said. “To be very honest, it doesn’t look very good.”
Servis said he hopes some of the scar tissue can be cut out Wednesday to see what the hoof wall looks like.
If it’s solid, Servis said, the split will be filled in with an epoxy patch to combat bacteria from getting into the injured area.
“And if it’s not solid, then he’s done,” Servis said.
Rockport Harbor was unbeaten in four races as a 2-year-old, but he made only two starts last year because of lingering problems with his foot.
Noted blacksmith Ian McKinlay wired the hoof shut in March after a crack developed, then rewired it again several days later, adding a trench to flush out any foreign matter. After Rockport Harbor finished sixth in the $ 325, 000 Grade II Lexington Stakes on April 23 at Keeneland in Lexington, Ky., Servis and owner Rick Porter decided to rest the son of Unbridled’s Song the remainder of the year and let the foot grow out. Rockport Harbor appeared to have shaken his physical problems with a front-running comeback victory in the $ 100, 000 Grade III Essex Handicap on Feb. 11 at Oaklawn. But in the Razorback, regular rider Stewart Elliott was pushing hard on the colt before he reached the quarter pole. Rockport Harbor,
1 who had a 1 / 2-length after a half-mile, was eventually beaten 9 lengths by Purim as the 2-5 favorite.
“I don’t know whether we’re ever going to get him back, but we’re going to give it a try without being real invasive,” Porter said. “If we can’t patch this up and fix it from the outside, then... I’m not going digging in there again.”
Only 24 hours earlier, Porter, Servis and Elliott were basking in the glow of Round Pond’s dramatic victory over Happy Ticket in the $ 175, 000 Grade III Azeri Breeders’ Cup for older fillies and mares.
“We got her going, anyway,” Porter said. “So we’ll try and keep her healthy and maybe we’ll get a miracle with Rocky. If not, we’ll have to retire him and enjoy the memories.”
A $ 470, 000 yearling purchase, Rockport Harbor has won 5 of 8 career starts and $ 324, 800.
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