The No. 13 post position did prove unlucky after all for likely betting favorite I Want Revenge in today's 135th Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs. Trainer Jeff Mullins scratched the colt this morning, because of a problem in his left front ankle.
"The biggest dream is to get here, but the biggest nightmare is to get to race day and have to scratch," Mullins said at a 9 a.m. press conference.
X-rays and ultrasound examinations did not show any bony injury to the ankle, but two veterinarians concurred that there was an inflammation in the soft tissue above and below the ankle.
Mullins said that when he arrived at his barn to begin preparations for the 6:24 p.m. Derby, he felt some "touchy heat" in the ankle. Jogging I Want Revenge up and down the asphalt to test for soundness, Mullins said he looked "pretty sound."
Veterinarian Dr. Foster Northrop arrived soon afterwards, and watched another jog, but the colt took one or two unusual steps, indicating possible lameness, "which is unacceptable in any race."
Northrop said, "He X-rayed perfectly normal and an ultrasound was fine."
Dr. Larry Bramlage, the on-call veterinarian who represents the American Association of Equine Practitioners for the Derby, also said I Want Revenge jogged normally.
"He didn't look that bad, but this close to the Derby you cannot determine" the potential severity of the problem, Bramlage said. "If this was not a Derby horse, you'd keep an eye on him," and go on with normal training.
Mullins said that given the weather with the racing surface sealed tight after Oaks Day racing in preparation for expected overnight rains, he feared that the track surface would be too hard, which might have aggravated his colt's problem.
"We felt it was in the best interest of the horse to scratch him," Mullins said about the Wood Memorial winner.
For 19-year-old jockey Joe Talamo, it was a bitter disappointment.
"I'm at a loss of words," he said. "I'm glad the horse is OK, it could have been worse. Something could have happened on the track. After all, it was the horse who got us here."
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Northrop said indications were that it was a soft-tissue injury, but called it "a high-risk area in being injured." He said "further diagnostics will be done."
Both Northrop and Bramlage commended the trainer and owners for deciding to look out for the colt's well-being. Co-owner David Lanzman was on hand for the press conference.
"I commend Mr. Lanzman and the trainer, that they didn't get swept up in the Derby and acted in the best interest of the horse," Northrop said.
"We got these cards dealt, and have to carry on," said Lanzman, owner of the colt with Michael Iavarone's IEAH Stables, Jeff Puglisi, Charles Winner, Michael Dubb and Steven Marshall. "I think we have hired the best people in the world" and he accepted their decision.
"If you walk by his stall, you're not going to know anything is wrong with him," Northrop said.
Mullins was asked if this meant that I Want Revenge would miss the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico in two weeks, and he said, "At this point, I'd have to say yes."
In early Derby wagering at Churchill Downs yesterday, I Want Revenge was the 6-1 third choice, behind 9/2 favorite Friesan Fire and 5-1 General Quarters, a local favorite because of his Louisville ownership. From the $542,255 wagered, $49,222 was bet on I Want Revenge.
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