J. Paul Reddam’s RED ROCKS (Ire) (Galileo [Ire]), the early 9-5 favorite for
Saturday’s $500,000 Sword Dancer Invitational S. (G1), will be scratched from
the 1 1/2-mile turf race because of filling in his left hock, trainer Mark
Hennig said Friday morning.
“Thursday afternoon he had filling in his left hock and we felt like we
needed to treat it,” said Hennig, who took over training of Red Rocks last
month. “That, and the prospect of running over soft turf with the possibility of
further aggravating it, led us to that decision.”
The Sword Dancer would have been the first start for Red Rocks, winner of the
2006 Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1), since Hennig took over training from Brian Meehan
following his two-length victory over Horse of the Year Curlin (Smart Strike) in
the Man o’ War S. (G1) on July 12 at Belmont Park.
Hennig said he did not have an alternate race picked out yet.
“We want to get this handled first,” he said. “And there are plenty of
opportunities coming up in the fall.”