Blue Grass winner Dance With Fate euthanized

DEL MAR, Calif. (AP) Blue Grass Stakes winner Dance With Fate has been euthanized after the colt severely injured his leg in a training accident.

A veterinarian at the seaside track said Thursday that Dance With Fate ruptured two of the three large patella ligaments in his right rear leg earlier in the morning.

Dr. Helmuth Von Bluecher says the injury was complicated by possible infection and further injuries in the area, which meant the colt would not be able to bear weight.

Dance With Fate was galloping at 5:30 a.m. when he bolted to the outside fence near the far turn, crashed into the fence and fell, dumping exercise rider Joe Durant, who was hospitalized with unknown injuries. Dance With Fate was taken by horse ambulance to trainer Peter Eurton's barn, where the colt was put down about 5 1/2 hours later.

''Words can't express what we're feeling right now,'' Eurton wrote on Twitter. ''Thank you for all of the support during a rough time like this. The joy he gave us will never be forgotten.''

Earlier, Eurton said he wasn't sure how or why the accident happened.

Dance With Fate had been scheduled to run in the $200,000 San Diego Handicap on Saturday. He finished sixth in the Kentucky Derby in his most recent start on May 3. The 3-year-old colt missed a start in the Belmont Derby on July 5 after being withdrawn because of colic.

Dance With Fate had three wins in nine career starts and earnings of $680,050 for Southern California-based owners Sharon Alesia, Michael Mellen and Joe Ciaglia.