Cigar Has Hoof Treated; His Racing Future Unknown

Cigar began the road to an uncertain recovery on Friday, the abscess in his right front foot healing but the impact on his racing schedule still unknown. But he was surrounded at Gulfstream Park by the bustle of 3-year-old horses on the road to the Kentucky Derby, with Unbridled’s Song ranked as the 8-5 choice to outrun nine other colts in the 50th running of the Fountain of Youth Stakes today.

Bill Mott, the trainer of Cigar, who personally cut into the horse’s hoof Thursday to drain the abscess, reported on Friday morning that his champion was showing signs of recovery. But he acknowledged that the stone bruise that caused the abscess had most likely ended their plans to run in the $1-million Santa Anita Handicap one week from Saturday.

“He’s better, he is behaving well,” Mott said outside Barn 7, where the 1995 Horse of the Year reigns.