Racehorse TALK

Bejarano Seriously Injured At Del Mar
US jockey Rafael Bejarano suffered multiple facial fractures in a fall at Wednesday's opening day card at Del Mar, California, when his mount 8YO gelding Mi Rey (Louis Quatorze-My Honor, by Southern Halo) "broke down near the eighth pole", reported thoroughbredtimes.com. Bejarano was stretchered off the track & taken to Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla for examination where X-rays showed he suffered fractures of the jaw, nose, and orbital bones in the mishap. Mi Rey "suffered a catastrophic injury to his right front leg & was euthanaised". A multiple Argentine Gr2 winner, Mi Rey won 10 of 37 starts and earned US$199,932. (Jul 24)

It's A Bird Disqualified From Oaklawn Win
Leading US 6YO entire It's a Bird (Birdonthewire-Faithful City, by Hooched) has been stripped of his 6-lengths victory in the Gr2 Oaklawn Handicap for a positive test for Class 4 medication naproxen, reported thoroughbredtimes.com. Before the ruling It's a Bird ranked 5th on the North American earnings list this year with US$1,148,600. It's A Bird's trainer Marty Wolfson was fined US$500, & while he may appeal the decision, owner Edmund Gann will forfeit the US$300,000 winner's share of the US$500,000 purse. (Jul 24)