Derby Out, Preakness “A Longshot” for McKinzie

[Chief Stipe]

Karl Watson, Michael Pegram and Paul Weitman’s ‘TDN Rising Star’ McKinzie (Street Sense), sidelined from training with a hock issue, scanned clean in a set of x-rays taken this week, but will be forced to miss the GI Kentucky Derby, Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert confirmed on an NTRA teleconference Tuesday. Baffert, who also called a potential start in the May 19 GI Preakness S. “a longshot,” said the colt’s injury is manageable, but significant enough to necessitate rest.

“He’s fine,” Baffert said. “The x-rays were all clean. He did something in his hock. I think he jammed it. He was just a little off one morning when we were going to the track. There was no swelling or anything. He was fine the next day, but the nuke scan showed a little something in the hock. We’re just being cautious. With the Derby–every day he doesn’t go to the track, it’s not in his favor. Whatever is going on, we’re just going to let it heal on its own.”

McKinzie was expected to make his next start in Saturday’s GI Santa Anita Derby, but his defection has set in motion a game of musical chairs within the Baffert barn, with ‘TDN Rising Star’ Justify (Scat Daddy) being redirected from the Apr. 14 GI Arkansas Derby to Santa Anita’s final prep. Meanwhile, Baffert confirmed that Zayat Stables’s Solomini (Curlin), second in the GII Rebel S. Mar. 17, will return to Oaklawn Park to contest the Arkansas Derby, while impressive maiden winner Restoring Hope (Giant’s Causeway) will take the colt’s place in the GII Wood Memorial S. starting gate this Saturday.

“It was either [Restoring Hope] or Solomini [in the Wood], but I think with Solomini, I want to give him an extra week and go back to Arkansas,” Baffert said.

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