THE PAMPLEMOUSSE TO MISS KENTUCKY DERBY, OUT INDEFINITELY

The Pamplemousse will be sidelined indefinitely “but it will be longer than six months,” part owner Alex Solis II said Sunday after the son of Kafwain was scratched Saturday morning from the Santa Anita Derby, a Grade I race for which he was the 9-5 morning line favorite.

The Kentucky-bred gray was a leading contender for the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on May 2.

“He has a small lesion (on the tendon in his left front leg) and we’ll do the best thing by the horse,” Solis continued. “We’re grateful that Julio (trainer Julio Canani) scratched yesterday. The Pamplemousse will run again. His time off will be indefinite, but it will be longer than six months.”
Solis indicated that for the time being, the horse would remain with Canani at Santa Anita.

The Pamplemousse had three wins from five career starts, including victories in the San Rafael Stakes and the Sham Stakes, both Grade III races at Santa Anita this meet, prior to his scratch from the Santa Anita Derby.

A 3-year-old colt out of the Rubiano mare Comfort Zone, The Pamplemousse had amassed $209,280 in earnings, with $180,000 of that total coming from his two starts at Santa Anita this winter.

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