Maximus Mearas S, who finished seventh in the Hambletonian Stakes this past Saturday (Aug. 2) at The Meadowlands, will miss the remainder of the year because of an injury discovered this week, trainer Lucas Wallin said on Friday.
Wallin, who trains the three-year-old trotting colt for owner Kjell Magne Andersen, hopes the son of Chapter Seven-Darling Mearas S will be able to return to action in 2026.
Maximus Mearas S was beaten by 5-1/2 lengths in The Hambletonian, personally timed in 1:51, and trotted his last quarter in :26.4, which tied for the fastest in the race.
“He didn’t race bad, but I suspected something was wrong,” Wallin said. “I was hoping at first it was sickness, but we did an ultrasound and found he had a little suspensory issue with his left front leg. The vet said we found it at the right time. It is nothing he had for a while, so it should heal well.”
Maximus Mearas S has four wins and three second-place finishes in nine career races, with earnings of $389,006. His victories in 2024 included a Bluegrass Stakes division and Breeders Crown elimination. He missed by a neck against Maryland in the Breeders Crown final, when he sprinted home from seventh place with a :26.2 last quarter.
“He’s so talented and I think he has so much more to do, so if the injury heals the way we want, I hope he can race next year to show everyone how good he is. If it will be in Sweden or over here, that’s too early to say. Time will tell.”
(USTA)