Trigger Warning suffers condylar fracture in Steel Valley Sprint win

Trigger Warning, who contended in this year’s Travers Stakes and Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile, was in transit to the Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital on Monday evening after suffering an injury while winning Mahoning Valley’s $250,000 Steel City Sprint.

Trainer Michael Rone said the son of Candy Ride suffered a condylar fracture in his left-front leg. Trigger Warning was vanned off after his nose victory over Bobby’s Wicked One.

Rone doesn’t believe the ailment to be life-threatening, though it will require surgery.

“I think he’s mendable,” the trainer said.

Rone, a former blacksmith who now bases in Ohio, has trained the former $6,000 yearling purchase Trigger Warning for most of the year. The Brinley Enterprises charge has now earned more than $555,000 having also finished third in the Ohio Derby (G3) before a close second in the Indiana Derby (G3).

Trigger Warning set all the fractions in the Steel Valley Sprint cutting back to six furlongs for a win in the slop. Stewards declared no change after jockey Tyler Gaffalione, who rode the runner-up, filed a rider's objection due to bumping in the stretch.

“There was some race riding going on — a little brushing going on,” Rone said. “…Sometimes we escape those situations, and sometimes we don’t. It’s one of those unfortunate moments.”