Saratoga: 3-year-old gelding is fatally injured in turf race

Wisecraken, a 3-year-old gelding, was euthanized Wednesday after suffering an injury in the fifth race at Saratoga.

According to the Equibase chart, he was pulled up near the five-sixteenths pole of the 1 1/8-mile turf race with an injury to his right hind leg.

New York Racing Association spokesperson Keith McCalmont said in a social-media post, “despite the immediate response of on-site veterinarians, the horse was humanely euthanized due to the severity of the injury.”

It was the fifth start for Wisecraken, a son of McKraken. He broke his maiden in his prior start on July 2 at Belmont. He was owned by Ironhorse Racing Stable and trained by Michelle Nevin.

In a social-media post, Ironhorse Racing said, "he was a big, lovable favorite" in Nevin's barn. "He always gave his all and was doing it today."

McCalmont also posted that Downtown Channel, a 2-year-old filly, was pulled up after the wire of the first race and was vanned to the stable as a precaution.

According to the New York State Gaming Commission chart of equine deaths and breakdowns, this was the ninth fatality this summer at Saratoga. Five occurred for horses who were racing and four who were training.