The dream of a Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) with victory went up in smoke for some and came to life for others on May 2 when Un Ojo was disqualified from the race because of a bruised left front foot, allow The path of purity to enter the body of the field 20 horses.
Un Ojo coach Ricky Courville confirmed the news to BloodHorse on Monday.
“He left work Saturday with a bruised foot and it’s not right to run him; he’s still a little bit soft on it,” Courville said. “We’ll let the dust settle… He can go to the ranch here in Kentucky; he can come back home (to Louisiana), or if he’s better in a week, we can maybe find something else for him.”
Ethereal Road, owned by Aaron Sones and Julie Gilbert and coached by D. Wayne Lukas, makes its fourth start at the Stonestreet Lexington Stakes (G3) April 16 at Keenland and finished seventh in the April 9 Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (G1) at the Lexington track. His best finish on the Road to the Kentucky Derby was, coincidentally, a runner-up finish against Un Ojo in the February 26 Rebel Stakes (G2) at Oaklawn Park.
“I’m happy to be inside, especially for the owner, he wants to run,” Lukas said of Sones. “I’ve been there, I’ve done it before, I’ve had experience so I’m happy to pass it on. The horse has been trained very well. Even if it’s good enough, it will take us. How far, I don’t know. But at least that owner will have Derby experience and that’s important.”
Lukas named Victor Espinoza when he joined, hopefully one who also qualifies, but was in the confirmation process Monday morning to confirm Espinoza can still accept mounts.
Positions posted for the Kentucky Derby will be drawn at 2:00 p.m. ET.
Ethereal Road will be the start of the 50th Derby for Lukas, a four-time race champion.
This story will be updated.
