LOUISVILLE ? Wood Memorial winner Toby's Corner was pulled from the Kentucky Derby after trainer Graham Motion's assistant Adrian Rolls noticed Monday that the horse was "slightly off" in the rear. The horse was then sent to the New Bolton Center equine clinic in Kennett Square, Pa., for a bone scan.
New York Racing Association via AP
An assistant trainer spotted a problem with Toby's Corner, seen here racing April 9 in New York. The horse has been pulled from Saturday's Kentucky Derby.
New York Racing Association via AP
An assistant trainer spotted a problem with Toby's Corner, seen here racing April 9 in New York. The horse has been pulled from Saturday's Kentucky Derby.
Motion, reached by phone, said it hasn't been determined what is wrong with the horse, who was set to ship to Churchill Downs from Maryland on Tuesday. But Tuesday morning, Motion called the horse's owner, Dianne Cotter, to break the news that Toby's Corner wouldn't be Derby-bound.
"I'm so fortunate that at least I do have another contender," said Motion, who also trains Animal Kingdom. "For the Cotters, it's such a blow. They are horse people, and they do understand that these things happen. But that was a tough phone call to make."
Motion said he expects Toby's Corner to return to Fair Hill, Md., on Tuesday evening, but does not know what his racing future will be until a final diagnosis is made.
With Toby's Corner out, Derby Kitten now makes the 20th spot on the Derby eligibility list. Ken Ramsey, who owns Derby Kitten with his wife, Sarah, said he was sorry Toby's Corner could not make the trip, but said he was thrilled at his opportunity to fulfill his dream of winning a Kentucky Derby.
"It's pretty heady stuff to get in," Ramsey said Tuesday. "We've kind of been holding our breath."
Ramsey said he was afraid he was going to find himself again with a horse 21st on the eligibility list. Last year, he was unable to enter Pleasant Prince.
Trainer Mike Maker now has two Derby horses Saturday. He also trains Twinspired.
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All in the family
When trainer William "Jinks" Fires makes his way to saddle Archarcharch for the Derby, his entire family will be on hand to take in the moment.
Making it an extra special occasion is that his son, Doug Fires, will be in town, having returned in February from a deployment to Afghanistan. Doug Fires is a captain and helicopter pilot in the Marines and has been deployed twice to Iraq.
"It's super," Fires said of his son being able to travel to Kentucky from his post at Camp Pendleton, Calif., for the race. "He's never gotten to go to a Derby."
This is Fires' first trip to the Run for the Roses, too. It's a total family affair. His daughter Krystal is married to Jon Court, who will ride Archarcharch. His daughter Candice will escort the colt to the paddock.
Rain going away, for now
A cold, sometimes driving rain pelted visitors to Churchill Downs early Tuesday and left the track in sloppy condition for morning workouts.
But with a couple of days of dry weather in the forecast for today and Thursday, track superintendent Butch Lehr said he's hopeful that the track can be fast for Saturday's Kentucky Derby.
Wet weather has pelted Kentucky for more than two weeks, leaving the Ohio River above flood stage and residents dealing with flooded streets and homes.
"We just need it to stop raining for a while," Lehr said. "We'll be in good shape. I'm optimistic."
The National Weather Service is predicting chances of showers for both Friday and Saturday.
Jessie Halladay also writes for The (Louisville) Courier-Journal.
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