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Likely Kentucky Derby favorite Eskendereya is out of the Run for the Roses.
Trainer Todd Pletcher said he's pulling the 3-year-old colt out of next weekend's Derby due to an ``issue'' in his left front leg.
Eskendereya stamped himself as the horse to beat after romping to wins in the Fountain of Youth and the Wood Memorial by a combined 18 1/4 lengths.
He was scheduled to work at Churchill Downs on Sunday morning, but Pletcher opted to keep the horse in the barn while sending his other Derby entries out on the track.
Pletcher said he detected something was ``off'' with the horse when he galloped on Saturday morning and noticed a large amount of swelling in the left front leg between the ankle and the knee when he arrived at the barn on Sunday.
``We were still kind of hoping for a miracle overnight and we didn't get it,'' Pletcher said. ``It's the worst of timing.''
Pletcher stressed that ``the horse is not lame'' and he's hopeful the injury, which he likened to a sprained ankle in a human, isn't career-threatening. The horse will undergo a thorough examination soon, but Pletcher said he'll speak to owner Ahmed Zayat before making any decision.
``It's a tough one,'' said Pletcher.
Ky. Derby favorite Eskendereya out with leg issue - News - FOX Sports on MSN
Trainer Todd Pletcher said he's pulling the 3-year-old colt out of next weekend's Derby due to an ``issue'' in his left front leg.
Eskendereya stamped himself as the horse to beat after romping to wins in the Fountain of Youth and the Wood Memorial by a combined 18 1/4 lengths.
He was scheduled to work at Churchill Downs on Sunday morning, but Pletcher opted to keep the horse in the barn while sending his other Derby entries out on the track.
Pletcher said he detected something was ``off'' with the horse when he galloped on Saturday morning and noticed a large amount of swelling in the left front leg between the ankle and the knee when he arrived at the barn on Sunday.
``We were still kind of hoping for a miracle overnight and we didn't get it,'' Pletcher said. ``It's the worst of timing.''
Pletcher stressed that ``the horse is not lame'' and he's hopeful the injury, which he likened to a sprained ankle in a human, isn't career-threatening. The horse will undergo a thorough examination soon, but Pletcher said he'll speak to owner Ahmed Zayat before making any decision.
``It's a tough one,'' said Pletcher.
Ky. Derby favorite Eskendereya out with leg issue - News - FOX Sports on MSN