Golden Pheasant Is Latest to Be Forced From Breeders’ Cup

A record-equaling 110 horses have been pre-entered for the Breeders’ Cup, but one of the best in the group, Golden Pheasant, will not be running because of a training injury at Santa Anita that has probably ended his racing career.

Golden Pheasant, owned by King owner Bruce McNall and his star player, Wayne Gretzky, was the early 2-1 favorite for the $2-million Turf Stakes, to be run along with the six other Breeders’ Cup races at Belmont Park in Elmont, N.Y., on Oct. 27.

However, Golden Pheasant took a bad step during a gallop Monday and broke the cannon bone, between the knee and the ankle, in his right foreleg. The horse, winner of the Arlington Million in his last start, will undergo surgery today at the Santa Anita equine hospital to have the small break fused by two or three screws.

McNall was already trying to put together a breeding syndicate for Golden Pheasant for next year. The 4-year-old Caro colt, out of Perfect Pigeon, a Round Table mare, could probably resume training six months after the surgery, but now it is likely he will be sent to stud in time for the breeding season that starts in February.

The Breeders’ Cup does have five of last year’s winners--Bayakoa, Steinlen, Rhythm, Go for Wand and Dancing Spree--but because of recent form, victories by Steinlen and Dancing Spree would be considered surprises. Bayakoa and Go for Wand will meet in the Distaff, which figures to be the highlight of the day; Rhythm will run in the Classic; Steinlen will try to repeat in the Mile, and Dancing Spree will seek another victory in the Sprint.

The pre-entry total matched the number that were made eligible for the Breeders’ Cup at Aqueduct in 1985, the last time the races were held in New York. Owners had to pay 1% of the total purse, fees ranging from $10,000 to $30,000, to get their horses to this stage. Another 1% is due a week from today, to enter a horse.

The owners of Bayakoa and Best Pal, one of the favorites in the Juvenile, had to supplement their horses because they weren’t nominated shortly after being foaled. It cost $200,000 for Bayakoa and $120,000 for Best Pal.