Photo:Dan Heary / Eclipse Sportswire
Ever Summer was euthanized after a fall during the fourth race at Saratoga on Saturday.
Jockey Irad Ortiz Jr., who was aboard the 4-year-old filly, walked to an ambulance after the fall and, after being cleared to ride he took his mount in the next race.
The accident happened during a 1 3/8-mile, allowance-optional claiming race on turf with a field of six. Ever Summer went down in the final turn. Also during the race, 4-year-old Frivole was pulled up on the second turn and vanned off.
Owned and bred by Brereton Jones and trained by Christophe Clement, Ever Summer was runner-up by a neck in her previous start in the Robert G. Dick Memorial Stakes.
She also had a fall in November after clipping heels with another runner in an Aqueduct allowance.
Ever Summer had a career record of 8: 2-1-1 and earnings of $144,670.
This was the third fatal breakdown at Saratoga in the last four racing days. On Thursday, 5-year-old Sopran Basilea was euthanized on the track after an injury on the gallop-out following the Glens Falls (G2). On Saturday, 3-year-old Maple Leaf Mel was euthanized at Saratoga after she fell just before winning the Test (G1).
After Sunday's race, the New York Racing Association moved the remaining turf races to the dirt track.
