Fulleffort also scratches from the Kentucky Derby and Ocelli enters the starting gate

The winner of the Jeff Ruby Steaks suffered an injury to one of his fetlocks and left another vacancy in the big race at Churchill Downs

LOUISVILLE, Kentucky (Special for Turf Diario).— The Kentucky Derby (G1) has suffered another significant withdrawal in the final stretch leading up to Saturday's race. Just one day after the departure of Silent Tactic (Tacitus), it was the turn of Fulleffort, who was scratched from the classic after a chip was detected in his left hind fetlock.

The news was confirmed this Thursday by trainer Brad Cox, who had been optimistic about what the son of Liam’s Map could achieve in his dirt debut after excelling on synthetic surfaces.

“Fulleffort had pressure in his left hind fetlock this morning. We took X-rays, a chip appeared, and he was evidently sore. He will not run on Saturday,” Cox explained.

The colt arrived at the Derby after winning the Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3), the main prep race at Turfway Park, and was one of the most interesting projects attempting to transfer performance from turf and synthetic to the Churchill Downsdirt. As a 2-year-old, he won on the grass, and this season he followed the alternative route to the Triple Crown, finishing second in the Leonatus Stakes (L) and the John Battaglia Memorial Stakes (L) before his major victory in the Jeff Ruby.

Cox assured that the horse will undergo surgery to remove the bone fragment and that the goal will be to target the second half of the season. “We don't want to get too far ahead of ourselves, but when he returns, if he trains well, we will try again on dirt,” the trainer commented. “It’s a shame for the people of St. Elias and Starlight Racing. The horse had achieved so much in the last eight or nine months, and I really wanted to see him on the dirt”.

The withdrawal of Fulleffort allowed for the entry of Ocelli, who will now occupy the 20th spot in the starting gate. The pupil of Whit Beckman arrives with a fact as curious as it is challenging: he is still a maiden after five starts. His best performance was a third-place finish in the Wood Memorial Stakes (G2), a result that ultimately gave him the chance to enter the Derby at the last minute.

“It’s a difficult task, but we believe this horse can compete with the others,” Beckman noted, aware that statistics and experience seem to play against him.

The consecutive withdrawals of Silent Tactic and Fulleffort highlighted, once again, the enormous physical demands involved in reaching the Kentucky Derby. Meanwhile, another horse that had caused concern, Golden Tempo(Curlin), showed positive signs this Thursday. After dealing with quarter cracks during the week, he was able to gallop normally again, and everything indicates he will be in condition to participate.

Despite the blow of losing the talented Fulleffort, Brad Cox still holds two strong cards for the Derby: Further Ado(Gun Runner) and Commandment (Into Mischief), both G1 winners and considered protagonists of the generation.