Spurious Precision euthanized after knee fracture

Klaravich Stables, Inc. and William H. Lawrence's Spurious Precision, the undefeated winner of the GII Saratoga Special S. Aug. 12, was euthanized Tuesday morning. The 2-year-old, who was preparing for the Oct. 6 GI Champagne S., suffered a fractured left knee during a workout at Aqueduct Monday. The preliminary diagnosis indicated the injury might be repaired surgically, and he was sent to the Hogan Equine Clinic in Cream Ridge, NJ, but additional X-rays revealed extensive damage to the bone structure of the knee.

"He went a mile Monday and he looked super," trainer Rick Violette Jr. said. "But [exercise rider Rodney Payne] felt his stride change as they finished the work, and he pulled him up right away. The horse ambulance brought him back to the barn, and after looking at the initial X-rays, there was some hope that surgery was an option. We sent him down to Dr. Patricia Hogan, but the comprehensive set of X-rays taken at the clinic showed that, in addition to a slab fracture, he had significant damage that could not be repaired."

According to Dr. Hogan, "Spurious Precision sustained a severely comminuted fracture of his left knee. Unfortunately, he shattered the two major weight-bearing bones of his knee, as well as incurring several other smaller fractures of the lesser-supporting bones, thus rendering the knee unstable and unable to support his frame. Heroic surgical measures were considered, but humane euthanasia was ultimately the only appropriate option for this type of injury."

Purchased for $105,000 from the OBS Sale in April, Spurious Precision made his debut at Saratoga July 21 and graduated by 3 1/2 lengths. The son of High Cotton added a five-length score in the Saratoga Special, and earned $168,000 in his two starts.