MyRacehorse.com and Spendthrift Farm 2nd Winner Forbidden Kingdom will miss the May 7 Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) at Churchill Downs MyRacehorse’s Joe Moran confirmed on April 10 that the cause was believed to be a problem with epiglottitis.
“Coach Richard Mandella got him off Derby (the trail),” said Moran, the operation’s West Coast race manager. “He will further examine the epiglottis to confirm the problem and what we are dealing with exactly.”
Forbidden Kingdom, son of American pharoah , faded to finish last out of 6 after setting pace in the April 9 (G1) Santa Anita Derby. He finished 15th on the Kentucky Derby Leaderboard with 50 points in the race, earned from his win in the March 5 San Felipe Stakes (G2) at Santa Anita . Park. One match earlier, Forbidden Kingdom defeated the winner Runhappy Del Mar Futurity (G1) Pinehurst and full of promise McLaren Vale on January 29 San Vicente Stakes (G2) on the same track.
Coach Brian Lynch says he’s still weighing his options with Classic Road after the Giant’s Causeway finished 11th in last week’s Florida Curlin Derby presented by Hill ‘n’ Dale (G1).
“He’s got enough points to get in any time we want,” Lynch said of Sunday afternoon’s Derby. “So we’re just going to spend our time with him and make sure everything’s okay, and not just get over the ambition of running a horse in the Derby for the sake of a horse in the Derby.
“I’m going to do the right thing by him and hopefully he’ll give us our money back. We’re going to take a little breather right now and just take the pressure off him and see what happens. in the next few weeks.”
Kentucky West Racing and Clarke Cooper Classic Causeway, 11th on the Leaderboard, earned a combined 66 points from wins in the February 12 Sam F. Davis Stakes (G3) and March 12 Lambholm South matches. Tampa Bay Derby (G2), as well as runner-up in the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (G2) and third in last year’s Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity (G1).
