Kentucky Oaks: Where's My Ring Sustains Tendon Injury After Jockey Drama

Michael McMillan’s Where’s My Ring was back in her stall at Barn 30 Saturday morning just a bit worse for the wear following her 10th-place finish in Friday’s Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks. The Twirling Candy filly sustained a tendon injury to her right rear leg during the running of the nine-furlong classic.

“I don’t know if it was coming out of the gate, or going into the first turn,” trainer Val Brinkerhoff said. “It’s not too bad, but it’s something we’ve got to deal with and get right. We surely would have liked to have seen a better showing yesterday, but that’s horse racing. Now we’ve got to get her right for things upcoming during the year.”

The conditioner was frustrated with the situation concerning his rider for the Oaks. He originally had commissioned veteran Jose Lezcano to again handle his charge after they had combined to win New York’s Gazelle Stakes (G3) in her previous start. But Lezcano was involved in a spill resulting in a concussion in the week before the big race and there was a medical question as to whether he could ride.

Brinkerhoff went to Plan B and lined up top rider Javier Castellano to serve as his pinch hitter, but then was told by local stewards that he would have to ride his “named” rider Lezcano.

“I wasn’t too happy with how that worked out, especially dealing with Lezcano’s people,” the veteran trainer (and former rider) said. “But again, that’s horse racing. All in all it was an honor to be here and be part of an event like this.”