Top colt pacer succumbs to endotoxemia

Owner Rodney Mitchell told harnessracing.com Thursday morning that recent New Jersey Sire Stakes champion Scape Ghost has died as a result of endotoxemia. Scape Ghost had won the $175,000 Sire Stakes final at the Meadowlands June 20 in a career-best 1:50.2 and then followed that up with a narrow second-place finish June 28 in the $61,710 Jersey Cup, which was his last start before dying Tuesday, July 15.

Mitchell said the colt had not been entered in the Meadowlands Pace because of some soreness, and he then suddenly came down with the fatal disease, which is caused by toxins in the blood that results in hemorrhaging, necrosis of the kidneys and shock.

“He was a little sore so we had picked him up to bring him to the farm and rest him up a little bit,” said Mitchell of taking the horse from trainer Mark Silva. “We took him to Doc (William) Riddle (in Maryland) for the soreness and then this happened. Doc Riddle said he couldn’t believe it. Once they get it…it must be really something awful because (Scape Ghost) went downhill really quick."

Originally a $24,000 yearling purchase, Scape Ghost was unraced at two, but had five wins and two seconds in nine starts this year, earning $167,57 for Mitchell. A son of Artiscape, Scape Ghost is out of the Precious Bunny mare Precious Ghost, she a half sister to 1992 Mistletoe Shalee runner-up Ghostly p,3, 1:53, $414,600.

“I turned down $600,000 for (Scape Ghost) early on,” said Mitchell. “He was an outstanding horse and just coming around. I just hope we are able to obtain more like him."

Mitchell said ironically his 2-year-old filly trotter Timeless Winner also died of endotoxemia last November, shortly after she finished second in the Goldsmith Maid final. Timeless Winner, who earned more than $292,000, had a career mark of 1:55.1 set while winning an International Stallion Stakes division at The Red Mile in early October.

Scape Ghost had been listed at 50-1 in the first Little Brown Jug Future pool, which is scheduled to open for betting on Thursday. He has subsequently been scratched from the list of horses available for wagering.

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