Java Gold Also Has Fracture, but He’s Expected to Race in ’88

Java Gold, winner of the Marlboro Cup and a leading candidate for 3-year-old honors, has a fracture in his right-front hoof, trainer Mack Miller said Sunday.

The fracture is in addition to a bruise of the hoof that Java Gold suffered in the Jockey Club Gold Cup Oct. 10 at Belmont Park. Java Gold, the favorite in the Gold Cup, finished second to Creme Fraiche.

“We knew he had the bruise last week,” Miller said. “However, he was still lame this week and we took further X-rays and discovered a fracture. It was visible on the X-rays and tomorrow (Monday) or Tuesday, we will make a decision on how we are going to handle it. We may just leave him in the stall for 90 days and let nature take care of it.”

Miller said Java Gold is still expected to race next year.