More On Major In Art Injury

Though 2008 Dan Patch winner Major In Art has suffered a serious setback in his three-year-old campaign, the ownership group of Tina Martinez, Chester Lebo and

Jerry Silva has opted to focus on the silver lining the situation has presented.

Ernie Martinez, speaking on behalf of the ownership group, conveyed to Trot Insider that the owners are looking at the situation from a glass-half-full point of view.

"This injury has thrown the ownership group a curveball, but right now time is on their side," Ernie, 55, told Trot Insider.

The injury Martinez is referring to is what the University of Pennsylvania's New Bolton Centre has diagnosed as an avulsion fracture -- a bone injury in a place where a tendon or ligament attaches to a bone. Major In Art's trainer, Noel Daley, spoke with Trot Insider regarding the injury.

"[Major In Art] will be heading out to my farm in Dillsburg (Pennsylvania)," Ernie explained. "He'll have his leg shocked and then have about a month of stall rest. The ownership group has the ability to have him re-evaluated every 30 days with New Bolton, which is optimal considering the circumstance."

In terms of time being on the side of the connections, Ernie explained to Trot Insider that in today's age of bloated purses, attractive stakes options are abundant late into the season.

"This horse is still eligible to the Tattersalls, Matron, American National, Breeders Crown -- I mean, there are options there, and they are very attractive.

"People have to remember that this horse took a mark of 1:50.4 during the Woodrow Wilson at the Meadowlands in just his fourth career start. He left from the seven-hole, was parked to the quarter and was 'on the cooch' the rest of the way through big fractions -- that's the way champions get it done, and this guy is a champion through and through."

Ernie stated to Trot Insider that, without a doubt, the road Major In Art will now be taking this year was not foreseen, yet it is one that will be taken in stride.

"Sure, given what has happened with Major In Art's setback, the connections are now looking at all possibilities and opportunities when it comes to the horse," he said. "That's the hand they were dealt, so that is the hand they're going to play with.

"I had to break the news of the injury to Chester, who broke Major In Art," Ernie explained with a chuckle.

"I told him, 'Chester, I have good news and bad news. The good news is that the horse is going to be okay. The bad news is that more people are going to be leaning on you to get a couple of world champions ready in order to pick up the slack.'"