Prospect Park Off Kentucky Derby Trail
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Trainer Cliff Sise and owner Martin Wygod thought something was off with Prospect Park the day of the Santa Anita Derby (gr. I).
His morning gallop before the race went well, but when the colt got back to the barn area, all he wanted to do was lay down. In the post parade, he wasn't his normal spunky self, and he ended up finishing fourth in the $1 million race at Santa Anita Park April 4 after having previously finishing second to Dortmund in the San Felipe Stakes (gr. II).
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"He was flat," Sise said. "Normally he's attacking the pony—biting and everything. He was just going through the motions. That's not him."
So it was no surprise when Sise said the son of Tapit is off the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) trail April 9, citing a high white blood cell count, a high temperature, and mucous. Prospect Park was in 21st place in the "Road to the Kentucky Derby" standings, with 30 points.
"He's got something cooking," Sise said of the colt's illness. "It's not anything dramatic, but it's going to take him off the Derby trail."
The trainer said there will be no timetable on Prospect Park's return to training or racing until the colt gets over whatever is ailing him.
"It happens every year," Sise said. "We're one of the unfortunate ones this year."