Amor de Contramano Sustains Sesamoid Fracture

The colt sustained the injury while breezing Sunday morning; veterinarians and surgeons are now evaluating the next steps

Amor de Contramano Faces Several Months on the Sidelines / JUAN I. BOZZELLO

A major setback emerged in recent hours for Amor de Contramano, one of the top colts of his generation and a leading contender for the Polla de Potrillos (G1), which will kick off the Triple Crown next month.

On Monday morning, Info Turf broke the news, and it quickly spread across racing media. Turf Diario spoke with trainer Juan Saldivia, who confirmed the unfortunate news from Spain, where he is enjoying a well-deserved vacation.

“Unfortunately, while he was on a long gallop at Palermo on Sunday, he fractured a sesamoid in one leg, which hits us just when expectations were at their highest,” Saldivia said, clearly affected.

He added, “We are now discussing next steps with the veterinarians and surgeons. We’ve consulted Enrique Sauro, Pedro Ive, and Indio Espinoza to determine whether surgery or a cast is the best course. We’ll deliberate everything needed to make the best decision for the horse’s welfare. Without a doubt, this is a big blow…”

Although a sesamoid injury in a hind leg is generally less severe than in a front leg, it still requires careful attention. Depending on the severity, the prognosis and future racing potential can remain favorable, but a significant recovery period will be necessary.

By Gouvernour Morris, bred by Haras La Pasión and owned by Las Canarias and Rubio B., the gray colt was coming off a decisive win in the Clásico Miguel Cané (G2), a key prep for the Polla, rebounding from an unexpected defeat to Drive Joy (Fortify) in the Gran Premio Estrellas Juvenile (G1).

Amor de Contramano first rose to prominence with a dominant, wire-to-wire victory in the Gran Premio Montevideo (G1) on May 1. Earlier that spring, he had a minor setback that required a short stay in a clinic, fortunately with no lasting effects.

Racing fans will now have to wait for the return of a colt who had generated tremendous excitement. The focus will be on a full recovery that allows him to come back, and eventually perform at the same level he has shown so far. As Saldivia said, it is indeed a major blow.