Greatest Honour Gets Time Off, Will Miss Kentucky Derby

Greatest Honour , winner of the Holy Bull Stakes (G3) and Fasig-Tipton Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2), will be given 60 days off from full training this spring, causing him to miss the May 1 Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) at Churchill Downs, trainer Shug McGaughey said April 7.

The Courtlandt Farms-owned 3-year-old last competed in the March 27 Curlin Florida Derby Presented by Hill 'n' Dale Farms at Xalapa (G1) at Gulfstream Park, finishing third as the favorite. His post-Florida Derby training proved unsatisfactory to McGaughey.

"I wasn't pleased with how he was galloping," the trainer said. "Finally, on Sunday, I said, 'We need to get to the bottom of this.' So we started working with him on Sunday morning, and we came to the decision yesterday that we need to give him some time off, let him grow into himself."

Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital orthopedic surgeon Dr. Larry Bramlage examined the Tapit colt's x-rays and bone scans and consulted on the decision to rest Greatest Honour, McGaughey said.

"We're going to give him 60 days off, 30 just in the field, and reevaluate," the trainer added. "Hopefully, we can start jogging him and riding him after 30 days. He doesn't have to have an operation or anything. He's just kind of banged around in his ankles and stuff. We need to just give him a little time."

Greatest Honour's setback, first reported by Daily Racing Form, removes what had been considered a leading contender from the Kentucky Derby picture. He was a 9-1 shot in Pool 5 of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool that closed March 28, trailing only Essential Quality  (4-1) and Concert Tour  (5-1) in popularity among individual betting interests.