Derby fave Eskendereya out
Since 2000, Todd Pletcher has brought 24 horses to the Kentucky Derby without winning. This, finally, was going to be the year for one of America's top trainers. Eskendereya had separated from the field in the Derby preps after dominating the Fountain of Youth and Wood Memorial. This was going to be Pletcher's Derby.
Since 2000, Todd Pletcher has brought 24 horses to the Kentucky Derby without winning. This, finally, was going to be the year for one of America's top trainers. Eskendereya had separated from the field in the Derby preps after dominating the Fountain of Youth and Wood Memorial. This was going to be Pletcher's Derby.
When the colt appeared in the Wood with bandages on his front legs for the first time, more than a few wondered what was up. When Eskendereya's gallops at Churchill Downs last week were less than inspiring, the whispers got louder. When Pletcher postponed a scheduled workout Saturday, the whispers became a roar. Something was wrong with Eskendereya.
Pletcher made it official yesterday morning. The almost-certain Derby favorite is out.
"He has a filling in his left front leg - from his ankle to his knee - and he will not be running," the trainer said.
Pletcher, the trainer who has won just about everything except the Derby, likely will have five or six other horses in the starting gate on Saturday. But not the horse he really wanted to run.
"The horse isn't lame," Pletcher said. "I wouldn't call it that. He's slightly off. His last couple of gallops have not been up to par. We're hopeful that this is not career-threatening. We'll do further diagnostics and see. He's not uncomfortable. We jogged him early this morning and he just appeared to be slightly off. We knew then that we couldn't go forward."
Eskendereya was unbeaten in four starts on dirt and, by every measure, looked like a very serious Derby - and beyond - horse.
"The thing that is so disappointing," Pletcher said, "is that I know a mile-and-one-quarter - even a mile-and-one-half - was well within his range. Without a doubt, he's the best horse we've ever brought to this stage."
It is very likely now that the filly Devil May Care, also trained by Pletcher, will run in the Derby instead of Friday's Kentucky Oaks. John Velazquez, who was going to ride Eskendereya, will pick up on the mount on the filly if she does go in the Derby.
