A recent PET scan at Santa Anita revealed an “area of concern” in the left front fetlock of graded-stakes winner Straight No Chaser (Speightster), trainer Dan Blacker said Thursday. The 4-year-old colt will be sent to the farm for a 90-day break.
He was last seen at Pimlico for the GIII Maryland Sprint on the Preakness S. undercard May 20 where he won by an impressive 7 1/2 lengths.
Straight No Chaser had not worked since the Maryland Sprint. Blacker said the 4-year-old Speightster colt recently underwent a medical examination after an undisclosed party agreed to purchase a minority interest in the colt.
“It was a routine pre-purchase exam. 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.”
Straight No Chaser will get the summer off before returning to training later this year.
“We'll probably give him 90 days at the farm and bring him back after Del Mar,” Blacker said. “He won't run again until around Christmas time.”
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