Suspected strangles case found at Belmont Park; Afleet Alex stays at Pimlico

Suspected strangles case found at Belmont Park; Afleet Alex

stays at Pimlico

A suspected but unconfirmed case of strangles forced the New York Racing

Association (NYRA) to quarantine Barn 60 at Belmont Park on Friday. LADY LIBBY

(Sea Salute) was put into an isolation stall "after exhibiting signs suggestive

of possible strangles," according to Dr. Celeste Kunz, NYRA's chief examining

veterinarian.

"This is a suspected case of strangles, not a confirmed case," Kunz said.

"But we are taking this very seriously, and are taking every precaution and

bio-security measure. We are testing every horse in the barn and horses that

have been through the barn. And we have isolated Lady Libby. The test samples

will be sent to two labs -- one local and one at the University of Illinois --

that are accommodating us through the holiday weekend. We should have word early

next week."

All trainers and veterinarians at NYRA racetracks are asked to report horses

with high fevers, neurological signs, or enlarged lymph nodes to Kunz. Horses

that have recently arrived from Delaware Park or Churchill Downs should have

temperature charts posted outside their stalls for two weeks. Delaware Park has

a confirmed case of strangles, while Churchill currently has three barns under

quarantine due to equine herpes virus.

Preakness S. (G1) hero AFLEET ALEX (Northern Afleet) was scheduled to ship to

Belmont Park on Saturday, but plans were changed when Mike Lokow, a New York Racing Association (NYRA) racing

secretary, contacted trainer Tim Ritchey on Friday with information on the unconfirmed case of strangles.

"Mike Lakow called me right away about the suspected strangles case, which I

am very appreciative," Ritchey said. "I can't take a shot shipping to New York

right now with this horse and expose him to something. I talked to the people at

Pimlico, and we'll stay here at least until Tuesday. By that time, NYRA will

hopefully know what they are dealing with and have control of the situation."

The bay sophomore returned to his normal

routine of two trips to the track on Friday, making a first appearance at 6:30

a.m. (EDT) to jog two miles over Pimlico's track before returning two hours

later for a 1 1/2-mile jog and a 1 1/2-mile gallop.

"Most horses would benefit from the same type of program but unfortunately

you can't do it with them," said Ritchey, who celebrated his 54th

birthday on Friday. "You have to have this kind of athlete. Maybe this kind of

training is brining out a little more in him, but it has worked and it is a team

effort."

Afleet Alex was supposed to work at Belmont on Tuesday, but instead will work at

Old Hilltop, weather permitting.

In other Belmont news:

Calder Race Course will set up two "Alex's Lemonade Stands"

on July 11, Belmont S. (G1) day, with all contributions going toward pediatric

cancer research at Joe DiMaggio's Children's Hospital in Hollywood, Florida.

"I hope we can get what we want accomplished on Belmont day and that is to have

a lemonade stand at every racetrack that runs that day," Ritchey said.

The Thoroughbred Racing Association is also encouraging its member tracks to

operate Alex's Lemonade Stands on June 11 and a number of tracks throughout the

country have already made a commitment.