Flake: Costa Rising sidelined for 5

Costa Rising has ankle surgery

By MARY RAMPELLINI Costa Rising will be sidelined for the next five months
after undergoing arthroscopic surgery
on Friday in Lafayette, La., to remove a small bone chip from his
left hind ankle, according to his trainer, Glenn Delahoussaye.

"I'd call it a flake," the trainer said.
"It was a small piece of bone that flaked off his ankle."

Delahoussaye said that Costa Rising was scheduled to return
to his Evangeline Downs Training Center base
on Monday.
Delahoussaye looks for him to resume racing around May.

"I haven't penciled anything in yet," he said.
"We'll let him come into his own, then look for a spot."
Before the surgery, he had been pointed for the $200,000
Louisiana Premier Night Championship at Delta Downs on Feb. 2.

Costa Rising won the $150,000 Louisiana Champions Day Classic
at Fair Grounds by 15o1/4 lengths in his last start, Dec. 8.
Following the race, he had a routine physical examination
that revealed a small spot on the ankle. A second set of X-rays
was taken on Friday, and surgery was subsequently performed
at Acadiana Equine Clinic.

Dr. Marilyn Rumbaugh, who removed a small bone chip from
Costa Rising's left knee last February, performed the surgery Friday.

Costa Rising rang up two of North America's
best Beyer Speed Figures in 2007. He earned a 118 for an allowance win
at Evangeline Downs in September, and a 115 for his victory
in the $200,000 Evangeline Mile in August.

After the Premier Night,
Delahoussaye said, he had planned to start Costa Rising
in the Grade 2, $500,000 New Orleans Handicap at Fair Grounds on March 8.

Costa Rising, who has won 10 stakes and earned $861,366,
races for Charles Castille Jr.

http://www.drf.com/news/article/91296.html

[gamblin4ever]

He's a nice horse, would've enjoyed seeing him run in the N.O. handicap. I hope he comes back just as good.