Injured Filly Might Return

Exogenous, the 3-year-old filly who fell and hurt her head on Breeders’ Cup Day, might race again.

“That’s an option that’s still open,” Randy Schulhofer, assistant trainer to his father, Scotty, said Tuesday. “We’re trying to save her as a broodmare, and racing her again is a best-case scenario.”

There was fear for the filly’s life Saturday when she reared and fell as she was about to walk on to the track for the Distaff, the opening race of the Breeders’ Cup World Thoroughbred Championships at Belmont Park.

“She’s doing well,” Schulhofer said. “She’s real bright this morning. She’s getting round on her own. She is responding.”

As for the head injury, Schulhofer said, “I’m sure there are some small fractures, but nothing real big.”

Exogenous has been treated at the Schulhofer barn since the accident. For head X-rays, she would have to be moved to an equine hospital.

The filly, a winner of Grade I stakes in her last two starts, would have been the second betting favorite in the Distaff, which was won by Unbridled Elaine.

As Exogenous emerged from the tunnel and was about to walk on to the track she reared, unseated Javier Castellano and crashed to the ground. The jockey was uninjured.

“She’s always been a funny filly,” Schulhofer said. “Something spooked her pretty good.”

He said he didn’t think the reason for her rearing would be discovered.