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General John B out of Kentucky Derby

Last updated: 4/29/05 7:49 PM

Turf Paradise Derby winner GENERAL JOHN B (Sweetsouthernsaint) suffered a

strained tendon under his left knee and will not run in the May 7 Kentucky Derby

(G1), trainer Roger Stein said. The injury was discovered Friday morning.

"It's not a big injury," Stein said. "I just can't run a horse against the

top three-year-olds in America if he's not 100 percent."

General John B exits a close second-place finish in the Santa Anita Derby

(G1) on April 9. Stein said the gelding's condition would be re-evaluated in two

weeks to determine how long the horse will be sidelined. Stein believes the

injury occurred when General John B worked six furlongs in 1:13 at Santa Anita

on Tuesday.

"Whatever damage is there probably happened during (the work)," Stein said.

"This morning he jogged and seemed fine. But there's a big difference between

jogging and running in the Kentucky Derby."

General John B has a record of 7-3-1-1 and $258,228 in earnings.

In other Kentucky Derby news:

High Fly tries out the mud at Churchill

(Michael J. Marten/Horsephotos.com)

Trainer Nick Zito said workouts for BELLAMY ROAD (Concerto), HIGH FLY (Atticus)

and NOBLE CAUSEWAY (Giant's Causeway) could be pushed back from Saturday to

Sunday due to the chance of rain and an off track.

"The way it looks now, Sunday," Zito said.

Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) winner WILKO (Awesome Again), a close third in

the Santa Anita Derby in his last start, is scheduled to work five furlongs at

Hollywood Park on Saturday with jockey Corey Nakatani astride.

Trainer Todd Pletcher said BANDINI (Fusaichi Pegasus) and FLOWER ALLEY

(Distorted Humor) likely would work Sunday rather than Saturday with COIN SILVER

(Anees) penciled in for Monday.

Trainer Kiaran McLaughlin said CLOSING ARGUMENT (Successful Appeal) will

gallop and/or work five furlongs on Sunday, weather permitting. Otherwise, the

breeze will get pushed back to Monday. The bay colt is scheduled to van from

Keeneland to Churchill Downs on Saturday afternoon.

Arkansas Derby (G2) winner AFLEET ALEX (Northern Afleet) was one of many

contenders to gallop over the sloppy track on Friday. The Tim Ritchey charge

made his normal two trips to the Churchill strip, going out for a two-mile jog

shortly after the track opened at 6 a.m. (EDT) and returning to the barn in

heavy rain. The Grade 1-winning colt returned shortly before the renovation

break around 8:40 and avoided rainfall this time, jogging a mile and then

galloping nine furlongs under the Twin Spires.

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