Mark Valeski sidelined by knee chip

One-time Kentucky Derby hopeful Mark Valeski, who scored a breakthrough win

in the Grade 2 Peter Pan Stakes on May 12, will be out of action for the rest of the year

with a knee chip, trainer Larry Jones announced Monday.

Jones told Churchill Downs' Darren Rogers that the colt will undergo

surgery to remove a small bone chip from his left knee. On Monday, Mark Valeski

was shipped to owner/breeder Brereton Jones' Airdrie Stud near Midway, Kentucky.

Later this week he will van over to Lexington's Hagyard-Davidson-McGee Institute

for the operation.

The injury did not come as a complete surprise, Larry Jones added. A bone

spur on the colt's knee had been monitored closely for some time.

"He had a little bit of a spur for a while and we knew it was probably going

to be a matter of time, but it looks like it has flaked off," the trainer said.

"So he'll be out for three or four months, at least. He'll come back at the Fair

Grounds and we'll get started again."

The son of Proud Citizen isn't expected to resume racing until early next year

at Fair Grounds, where he made noise on the Derby trail this spring.

Fourth to Union Rags in their mutual debut at Delaware Park last July, Mark

Valeski impressed when breaking his maiden at the same venue in September. He

was not seen again until January at Fair Grounds, driving to a good-looking

allowance/optional claiming score.

Mark Valeski made his stakes and two-turn bow in the Grade 2 Risen Star

Stakes on February 25. He proved that he belonged when engaging in a terrific

stretch duel with El Padrino, and just went down by a nose. The two pulled 5 1/2

lengths clear of third while posting a final time faster than older horse Nate's

Mineshaft did in the Grade 3 Mineshaft Handicap on the same day.

That effort launched Mark Valeski into even-money favoritism in the Grade 2

Louisiana Derby on April 1, but he couldn't deliver. Unable to catch 109-1

shocker Hero of Order, Mark Valeski was beaten a half-length in second. It was

later discovered that he had thrown a shoe and injured a hind hoof.

Although Mark Valeski had sufficient graded earnings to make the Kentucky

Derby field, his connections weren't bowled over by his training. They

ultimately decided that discretion was the better part of valor.

Mark Valeski instead awaited the Peter Pan one week later at Belmont, and

rewarded that move with a professional victory. Even so, Team Jones was in no

hurry to head for the Belmont Stakes, preferring to bide their time until the

Grade 2 Dwyer on June 30. With news of his knee injury, that wait will be much

longer.

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