Pluck sidelined with bruised cannon bones

Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (G2) winner PLUCK (More Than Ready), who has

disappointed in both of his starts this season at three, will be turned out in a

paddock for the next 60 days, as a result of bruising on both of his hind cannon

bones. The colt underwent a complete lameness exam Tuesday morning at Rood &

Riddle Equine Hospital in Lexington, Kentucky.

"He was lame on both hind legs," Dr. Larry Bramlage said. "He has bone

bruising on each cannon bone of his hind legs. The prognosis is favorable, as

they will resolve with a break in training."

Trainer Graham Motion will have Pluck vanned from Keeneland to Fair Hill

Training Center in Maryland, where the colt will be turned out during the

daytime for the next two months. During the second month, he will be lightly

exercised on a Eurociser in Team Valor's training barn at Fair Hill.

Owners Team Valor International and The Vinery had hoped to run the colt in

the French Two Thousand Guineas (Fr-G1) next month.

"We knew something had to be bugging him, because he shut down too quickly

when he ran so poorly last week in the Transylvania S. (G3) at Keeneland," Team

Valor CEO Barry Irwin said. "He is too much racehorse to just take himself out

of the race after a couple of strides. Garrett Gomez and Graham Motion were

puzzled after the race, but now we know why the colt did not want to extend

himself."

Prior to his seventh-place finish in the Transylvania, Pluck was beaten as

the 3-10 favorite in a March 12 allowance at Tampa Bay Downs.