A recent positron emission tomography scan at Santa Anita Park revealed an "area of concern" in the left front fetlock of graded-stakes winner Straight No Chaser, trainer Dan Blacker said June 15. The 4-year-old Speightster colt will be sent for a 90-day break at a farm.
Straight No Chaser emerged this past winter and spring as a top sprinter for owner MyRacehorse. After running third in the Palos Verdes (G3) at Santa Anita Feb. 5 in his seasonal bow, Straight No Chaser was sent to Oaklawn Park, where he romped by 7 1/4 lengths in a six-furlong allowance race. He then went to Pimlico Race Course for the Maryland Sprint Stakes (G3) on the Preakness Stakes (G1) undercard May 20 and coasted by 7 1/2 lengths in a swift 1:08.27.
Straight No Chaser had not worked since the Maryland Sprint. Blacker said the Kentucky-bred recently underwent a pre-purchase examination after an undisclosed party agreed to purchase a minority interest.
"As part of it they did a PET scan and they found an area of concern," Blacker said. "It's mild. The horse is sound. But nevertheless, we thought it would be a good time to give him a break."
He suggested the horse could return to his care sometime after the summer meet at Del Mar. "He won't run again until around Christmas time," he said.
Straight No Chaser has earned $245,800 with a record of 4-0-1 in seven starts.
