Shook Up to stay at vet clinic for two weeks

ELMONT, N.Y. – Shook Up, eased in the Grade 1 Acorn Stakes last Saturday at Belmont Park, will remain in a local equine clinic for about two weeks due to injuries she sustained during the race.

Shook Up had some skin removed from the tissue of her right front fetlock – an injury known as “degloving” – and the injury “penetrated her digital flexor tendon sheath,” according to Dr. Kyla Ortved of the Ruffian Equine Medical Center across the street from Belmont Park.

The sheath was scoped and cleaned, and the wound was closed, Ortved said. “She is doing as well as can be expected following her injury and will remain in the hospital over the next 10 to 14 days,” Ortved said.

Steve Asmussen, the trainer of Shook Up, said he was thankful for the quick action undertaken by New York Racing Association examining veterinarian Anthony Verderosa and his staff to get the filly vanned off following the race and taken to the clinic. He also thanked the staff at the clinic for the job they’ve done treating the injury.

Asmussen said he will consult with the vets on whether to return Shook Up to the track or send her to the farm after she is released. Shook Up, the Kentucky Oaks runner-up, was the third betting choice in the Acorn. She broke a step awkwardly, then was jostled a bit when horses to her outside were pushed into her. According to the chart, a few strides into the race, Shook Up “stumbled after appearing to clip the heels of Light the City,” and jockey Robby Albarado lost his irons for a brief period.  Albarado took a hold of Shook Up by the three-eighths pole and basically eased her across the finish line. Shook Up is a daughter of Tapit owned by Regis Racing.