BC Dirt Mile contender Practical Move dies at Santa Anita

Practical Move, the second choice on the morning line for the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile, died Tuesday morning at Santa Anita.

In a statement, the Breeders’ Cup said the 3-year-old colt died “after what is suspected to be a cardiac event while returning from his gallop this morning at Santa Anita Park.”

The statement said his rider was uninjured and that Practical Move was tended to immediately by veterinarians from the California Horse Racing Board, track owner 1/ST Racing, and Breeders’ Cup.

Michelle Yu of FanDuel TV reported that Practical Move was on the track when his rider quickly dismounted, with veterinarians attending to the colt quickly.

Dr. Will Farmer, co-leader of the Breeders’ Cup veterinary team, told Yu later that Practical Move would undergo a complete and thorough necropsy under standard Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority and CHRB protocols.

The 3-year-old son of Practical Joke, trained by Tim Yakteen, was 3-for-3 this year. He started the year with wins in the Grade 2 San Felipe and Santa Anita Derby (G1), but a fever prevented him from running in the Kentucky Derby.

After a six-month break, Practical Move returned in an Oct. 6 optional-claiming allowance race, winning by four lengths.

His last timed work for the Dirt Mile was on Saturday, when he went five furlongs in 1:00.20.

Owned by Pierre and Leslie Amestoy and Roger Beasley, Practical Move had a career record of 8: 5-1-2 and earnings of $923,200.