Tender-footed El Kabeir scratched from Derby

El Kabeir (Scat Daddy), whose status for Saturday's Kentucky Derby (G1) was

in doubt due to a foot bruise, was officially scratched on Friday afternoon.

El Kabeir had drawn post 7. With his withdrawal, post position number 1 will

now be left open. Those who had been drawn to the inside of El Kabeir will move

over one spot -- e.g., Ocho Ocho Ocho (Street Sense), who originally drew the

rail, will actually break from the 2 hole, and so forth. As ever, the program

numbers remain unchanged.

Trainer John Terranova noticed that the Zayat Stables colorbearer took "a few cautious steps" that caused the

cancellation of a morning gallop at Churchill Downs.

"We're a wait-and-see," Terranova had said earlier Friday morning. "He just

has a tender spot in the inside quarter of his left front foot. We're working on

it. It could be a simple bruise. It could be an abscess forming there. We're

working on it.

"We'll see how he is later today and tomorrow morning," he said. "If

everything looks good, he'll go out and train, exercise a little bit and stretch

his legs. If he's not, we'll take him out of the race."

Terranova found out something wasn't right with El Kabeir when he walked out

of his stall.

"He took a few cautious steps out of his stall this morning. Right away, it

was a concern," Terranova said. "It doesn't seem to be anything serious.

Timing-wise, we'll have to wait and see. Hopefully we'll be good."

Terranova said he was taking the unfortunate development in stride.

"It's part of the game, part of being a trainer. It comes with the

territory," he said. "We'll do what's best for the horse."

El Kabeir's stakes wins include the Kentucky Jockey Club (G2) at Churchill

last season and the Jerome (G3) and Gotham (G3) at Aqueduct earlier this year.

For the full Kentucky Derby tracknotes for May 1, please click

here.

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