Suddenly, the Kentucky Derby is wide open.
Favourite Omaha Beach was scratched because of a breathing problem Wednesday night, leaving a pair of Hall of Famers on the sideline B次元官网网址� trainer Richard Mandella and jockey Mike Smith.
Churchill Downs oddsmaker Mike Battaglia revised the morning line to make Game Winner the 9-2 favourite for the 1 1/4-mile race Saturday.
Improbable and Roadster were installed as the co-second choices at 5-1, giving five-time Derby-winning trainer Bob Baffert the top three choices in the 20-horse field.
Mandella told The Associated Press that Omaha Beach developed a cough and a subsequent veterinary exam showed the colt has an entrapped epiglottis. ItB次元官网网址檚 generally not life- or career-threatening and is typically corrected with minor surgery.
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B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 been a devastating thing, but we have to do whatB次元官网网址檚 right for the horse,B次元官网网址� said Mandella, who has never won the Derby with six previous starters.
The trainer said Omaha Beach will have surgery in Kentucky in the next few days and will be sidelined for two to three weeks. The ordeal will knock him off the Triple Crown trail.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 such a disappointment, but weB次元官网网址檒l fight again,B次元官网网址� Mandella told the AP. B次元官网网址淲e wonB次元官网网址檛 be out a long time.B次元官网网址�
The scratch was another blow to cancer survivor Rick Porter, the coltB次元官网网址檚 78-year-old owner. He has twice finished second in the Derby, in 2007 with Hard Spun and the following year with filly Eight Belles, who broke her ankles past the finish line and had to be euthanized.
B次元官网网址淗eB次元官网网址檚 a great sport,B次元官网网址� Mandella said. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e got very good support.B次元官网网址�
Omaha Beach had been the 4-1 early favourite.
MandellaB次元官网网址檚 dry sense of humour came out when he said, B次元官网网址淢y wife has my leg tied down so I canB次元官网网址檛 jump out of the window.B次元官网网址�
Smith had chosen to ride Omaha Beach instead of Roadster and now he wonB次元官网网址檛 have a chance to win the Derby for the second straight year. He rode Justify to victory last year.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 a little bummed out, but the horse is OK and weB次元官网网址檙e going to be all right,B次元官网网址� Smith told the AP by phone. B次元官网网址淭he good news is it wasnB次元官网网址檛 anything that is life-threatening.B次元官网网址�
Smith has three mounts on FridayB次元官网网址檚 card at Churchill Downs and five Saturday.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檒l be rooting for RoadsterB次元官网网址檚 connections big-time,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檒l be a glorified cheerleader.B次元官网网址�
Omaha Beach galloped Wednesday morning without problem and Mandella said everything was fine. But that changed by late afternoon when the exam showed the cough was more than a minor irritation.
The condition can indicate the start of a virus, a sore throat or a sore in somewhere in the horseB次元官网网址檚 soft palate.
Omaha BeachB次元官网网址檚 scratch moves Bodexpress into the field in the No. 20 post.
Mandella said he would likely return to Southern California before the Derby.
B次元官网网址淚 didnB次元官网网址檛 lose interest,B次元官网网址� he said, B次元官网网址渂ut I donB次元官网网址檛 want to be here and watch it.B次元官网网址�
ItB次元官网网址檚 not the first time the Derby has lost a favourite leading up to the race.
In 2009, I Want Revenge became the first morning-line favourite to scratch the day of the race because of a hot spot on his ankle.
Beth Harris, The Associated Press
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