ARCADIA, CA – Just three days after an ultra-impressive victory in the Las Virgenes Stakes (G3), Moonlight d’Oro is now off the Kentucky Oaks (G1) trail after discovery of a bone chip that requires surgery, according to an email from co-owner MyRacehorse.com.
Per the email, her Hall of Fame trainer Richard Mandella noticed heat and filling in the 3-year-old Medaglia d’Oro filly’s right knee. Subsequent x-rays identified a chip fragment that can be removed arthroscopically.
MyRacehorse’s advising veterinarian Dr. Jeff Berk gave a “very good” prognosis regarding a return to racing, the email stated.
Similar surgeries are not uncommon in horse racing and usually require 60-90 days of rest before returning to training, but this puts out of reach any hope of entering the Kentucky Oaks, to be held April 30.
MyRacehorse enjoyed a similar micro-share partnership with the 2020 Kentucky Derby (G1) and Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) winner Authentic, who retired as Horse of the Year.
“We were looking forward to a great run with her in the spring, but this happens every year to multiple horses on the Derby and Oaks trails,” said Joe Mishak, Racing Operations and Owner Experience Manager for MyRacehorse. “Unfortunately, it happened to us this year. It’s another good reminder to savor the moment when things happen like they did last Saturday. If you’re able to keep that going and participate in the big races, you just enjoy it.”
Moonlight d’Oro’s many connections are hopeful that a strong return and continued improvement could potentially lead to trying November’s Breeders’ Cup World Championships at nearby Del Mar.
“I was excited to see her on the track at Churchill,” said Dr. Miranda Bunge, one of a few thousand who own micro-shares in the filly through MyRacehorse. “Hopefully, she’ll return strong in the summer and we can aim for the (Breeders’ Cup) Distaff (G1) at the end of the year.”
