JC / Railbird - Smooth Air Spikes Fever

Smooth Air Spikes Fever

Florida Derby runner-up Smooth Air spiked a fever Thursday and has lost two days of training time. In a press conference this morning, trainer Bennie Stutts said the colt is getting antibiotics and that he is expected to return to the track on Sunday, but that if the situation isn’t resolved by Monday, Smooth Air could be out:

“Right now , he is doing much better,” Stutts said. “He is bright and eating. “If he is not 100%, he will not run in the Derby. No one wants to run in the derby more than me.”

Smooth Air’s defection would open up a spot for Bob Black Jack, leaving Denis of Cork at #21 and out if Lexington winner Behindatthebar goes, a possibility still being mulled over by trainer Todd Pletcher. “He said the horse has a lot of energy and is doing real good,” reported owner Satish Sanan, “so he wants to work the horse and then make the call” (ThoroTimes).
DRF reports that Sanan tried to swing a deal with owner William Warren to ensure Denis of Cork’s Derby entry:

“He did contact me after his first race, and he contacted my trainer earlier this week,” Warren said Friday from his office in Tulsa, Okla. “He wanted to trade 50 percent of Behindatthebar for 50 percent of Denis of Cork, with the idea of having Denis of Cork in the Derby and Behindatthebar in the Preakness.”

Warren rejected the offer: “It’s best not to have partners.”

Posted by JC in Racing on 04/26/2008 @ 9:35 am / Tagged Kentucky Derby / Follow @railbird on Twitter