Late Defection Leaves Preakness Doubt
The Kentucky Derby, scheduled for Saturday at 6:57 p.m. ET, will proceed with a field of 19 horses after The Puma was scratched due to a swollen leg caused by a skin infection. The announcement came less than 12 hours before the race's post time. This late scratch means no alternate will fill the spot, as the deadline for drawing into the field had passed.
The Puma, a horse with 8-1 live odds prior to its removal, was considered a contender by many. Assistant trainer Gustavo Delgado Jr. stated that while the swelling is expected to subside within a couple of days, the decision was made to prioritize the horse's well-being. He indicated that The Puma would likely remain at Churchill Downs for a week and that participation in the Preakness Stakes on May 16 is also improbable. All wagers placed on The Puma will be refunded.
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A Pattern of Departures
This marks the fifth horse to be withdrawn from the 152nd Kentucky Derby's original lineup. Previously scratched were Right to Party (on Friday), Fulleffort (on Thursday), and Silent Tactic (on Wednesday). Corona de Oro, originally on the also-eligible list, could not draw into the field due to the timing of The Puma's scratch.
This development continues a trend in recent years; it will be the sixth time in the past eight runnings of the Derby that fewer than 20 horses have competed.
Previous Scratches and Replacements
While The Puma's withdrawal leaves a void, other earlier scratches saw horses like Great White, Ocelli, and Robusta join the field.
Notable Odds and Contenders
Amidst the changes, Renegade is listed with 5-1 odds, with jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. set to ride. Other horses with notable morning-line odds include So Happy (6-1), Further Ado (7-1), and Commandment (7-1). Horses such as Danon Bourbon and Incredibolt were given 20-1 odds, while Albus, Wonder Dean, Pavlovian, and Golden Tempo are among those at 30-1 or higher, with Six Speed and Intrepido listed at 50-1.
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The Field at a Glance
| Horse | Odds | Trainer | Jockey | Owner(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Renegade | 5-1 | Todd Pletcher | Irad Ortiz Jr. | Mike Repole, Robert and Lawana Low |
| Commandment | 7-1 | Brad Cox | Luis Saez | Wathnan Racing |
| So Happy | 6-1 | Mark Glatt | Mike Smith | Norman Stables and Saints or Sinners |
| Further Ado | 7-1 | Brad Cox | John Velazquez | Spendthrift Farm |
| Danon Bourbon | 14-1 | Manabu Ikezoe | Atsuya Nishimura | Danox Co. |
| Incredibolt | 27-1 | Riley Mott | Jaime Torres | Pin Oak Stud |
| Chief Wallabee | 9-1 | Bill Mott | Junior Alvarado | Mike and Katherine Ball |
| Potente | 23-1 | Bob Baffert | Juan Hernandez | Speedway Stables |
| Emerging Market | 11-1 | Chad Brown | Flavien Prat | Klaravich Stables |
| Pavlovian | 52-1 | Doug O’Neill | Edwin Maldonado | Reddam Racing |
| Six Speed | 40-1 | Bhupat Seemar | Brian Hernandez Jr. | Brunetti Dugan Stables, Black Type Thoroughbreds, Steve Adkisson, Swinbank Stables |
| Golden Tempo | 36-1 | Cherie DeVaux | Jose Ortiz | Phipps Stable and St. Elias Stable |
| Great White | 29-1 | John Ennis | Alex Achard | Three Chimneys Farm (Goncalo B. Torrealba) & John Ennis |
| Ocelli | 50-1 | D. O’Neill | Cristian Torres | Calumet Farm |
| Robusta | 50-1 | Doug F. | [Not specified] | [Not specified] |
| Albus | 50-1 | Riley Mott | Manny Franco | Pin Oak Stud |
| Intrepido | 55-1 | Jeff Mullins | Hector Berrios | Dutch Girl Holdings and Irving Ventures |
| Litmus Test | 34-1 | Bob Baffert | Martin Garcia | SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables |
| Wonder Dean | 20-1 | Daisuke Takayanagi | Ryusei Sakai | Yoshinari Yamamoto |
| Whitworth Beckman | [Odds not specified] | [Trainer not specified] | Joe Ramos | Ashley Durr, Anthony Tate & Front Page Equestrian LLC |
Removed Horses:
The Puma
Right to Party
Silent Tactic
Fulleffort
Corona de Oro
