The Player, the popular chestnut horse who was pulled up on the far turn as the favorite in the New Orleans Handicap, fractured both sesamoids in his right-front leg, trainer and co-owner Buff Bradley said about a half-hour after the race.

"Obviously we're trying to save him. Right now we’re sending X-rays to the surgeon to see what to do," said Bradley.

The Player took the lead before the first turn Saturday under Calvin Borel but after setting a moderate pace to the half-mile pole he was overtaken by two horses, lost his position, and began to fade. He took no obvious bad step but was pulled up at about the 5/16 pole in distress while staying on his feet.  The Player was fitted with a Kinsey splint, walked onto the equine ambulance, and taken back to Bradley's barn.

We'll update this story at drf.com as more details become available.