Injury ends Invasor’s career

NEW YORK – Invasor, the 2006 Horse of the Year, was retired Saturday after cracking a bone in his right hind ankle during a workout at Belmont Park.

The injury was not life-threatening, and the 5-year-old horse will be sent to stud at Shadwell Farm in Lexington, Ky.

Invasor worked well in his final prep before next Saturday’s Suburban Handicap, and the injury was not readily apparent afterward, according to Rick Nichols, the general manager of Shadwell. But after the horse was cooling off, it appeared he was in discomfort. X-rays revealed a fracture at the top of the sesamoid, a bone in the ankle.

“He came back fine from the workout,” trainer Kiaran McLaughlin said. “But when we went to wash his feet, he took a couple of funny steps and we noticed some swelling in his right hind leg.”

Owned by Sheik Hamdan of Dubai, Invasor won 11 of 12 career races and earned $7.8 million. Invasor ends his career with a six-race winning streak.