Trainer Wayne Catalano will send out 3- year-old colt Irish You Well in Sunday's 47th Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park, however the veteran Midwest conditioner will be absent because of health problems.
"He is battling tough health issues," Donegal Racing's Jerry Crawford said. "Our thoughts and prayers are with Wayne and his family. I've had calls from all over the country today, including some trainers who are going to compete against us this Sunday in the Haskell, wishing him the best."
Crawford did not go into details on the health issues that Catalano has. But the Daily Racing Form reported that he is "hospitalized with an acute case of pneumonia." Catalano is in the intensive care unit at Saint Alexius Medical Center in suburban Chicago.
"He's really, really sick," his wife, Renee said.
Irish You Well is 12-1 in the morning line for the 1 1/8-mile Haskell where he will face leading 3-year-old filly Untapable, winner of the Kentucky Oaks. The chestnut colt will be ridden by Jose Lezcano from post 4 in the nine-horse field. He won Monmouth's Long Branch Stakes on July 5 after breaking his maiden at Monmouth on June 15 in his ninth career start.
[SportsNetwork.com]
