The colt with the three-race winning streak will be sidelined indefinitely because of a lesion in his left front leg, which will keep him out of the May 2 Derby.
The Pamplemousse was scratched hours before Saturday’s $750,000 Santa Anita Derby, in which he was the 9-5 morning line favorite. Pioneerof the Nile went on to win by a length in Arcadia, Calif. A pre-race examination showed heat in The Pamplemousse’s front left leg, and more exams Sunday revealed the lesion on the tendon.
“He has a small lesion and we’ll do the best thing by the horse,” said
Solis, whose father Alex rides The Pamplemousse, said the colt will run again.
“He’s not finished, but he will not run in the Kentucky Derby. We’ll evaluate and see how much time he needs,” the younger Solis said.
The Pamplemousse had three
For the time being, Solis said the horse would remain with trainer Julio Canani at Santa Anita.
Things looked much more promising Sunday for Pioneerof the Nile and I Want Revenge, who each came out of their preps in good shape.
Trainer Bob Baffert said Pioneerof the Nile will depart for Louisville on April 14. Baffert is a three-time Derby winner, but he hasn’t saddled a starter in the
“It’s exciting to be back on the road to the Derby,” the white-haired trainer said. “It puts a spring back in your step.”
Pioneerof the Nile gave Baffert his record fifth Santa Anita Derby victory, breaking a
With both front-running The Pamplemousse and
“I’m figuring out his style as we go along,” Baffert said. “I learned a lot from that horse yesterday. You get a little bit out of each race, and it prepares me for the Derby, so I’m really happy with my situation right now.”
Garrett Gomez has ridden Pioneerof the Nile in each of his four victories, but he’s also ridden Florida Derby runner-up Dunkirk for trainer Todd Pletcher, who hopes to make the 20-horse Derby field despite marginal graded stakes earnings.
Baffert said he hasn’t thought about whether Gomez will be his Derby jockey.
The trainer caught I Want Revenge’s performance in Saturday’s $750,000 Wood
“That horse ran a really great race,” Baffert said. “It just shows you the quality of horses in California is very strong. This is a tough (Kentucky) Derby field. There are six or eight strong contenders. I’m just glad I’m part of the top five.
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