Alex Out Until 2006
The latest news on Afleet Alex is hardly surprising: Trainer Tim Ritchey was still talking about the Cigar Mile last week, but Cash Is King managing partner Chuck Zacney all but said Alex was done for the year. This weekend came the announcement that x-rays showed the colt’s hairline fracture isn’t completely healed and that he won’t run again until 2006, when he may start in the Sunshine Millions Classic at Santa Anita in January or the Donn Handicap at Gulfstream in February.
Despite Alex’s long absence from the races, Ritchey believes the dual classic winner should be named Horse of the Year. “I’d like to congratulate (Breeders’ Cup Classic winner) Saint Liam and his connections, but I think my horse should be Horse of the Year. He had the most dominating races of the year; I would love to see it.” At least one voter agrees.
