Kentucky Derby Favorite Out With Injury

For the second year in a row, it looks like one of the pre-race favorites in the Kentucky Derby has been scratched due to an injury.

According to reports, Eskendereya, colt who has been dominating Derby prep season, was was pulled this morning from the this years Run for the Roses by trainer Todd Pletcher because of swelling in his front left leg.

Odds makers estimate that Eskendereya would have been about a 2/1 favorite at Churchill Downs next Sunday in the big race.

The 3 year old cemented himself as the horse to beat after rolling to wins in the Fountain of Youth and the Wood Memorial by a combined more than 18 lengths.

On Saturday, after a routine training session, the horse returned to the barn with swelling from his knee to his ankle.

Pletcher said he was immediately concerned.

“We were still kind of hoping for a miracle overnight and we didn’t get it,” Pletcher said on Sunday. “We looked at and worked on it overnight but didn’t see any improvement. He’s too special of a horse to take any chances.”