Bwana Bull may pass Trial for Derby

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Bwana Bull, who is entered in the $100,000 Derby Trial on Saturday at Churchill Downs, may scratch from that race and is a "possibility" to run in the Kentucky Derby on May 5, trainer Jerry Hollendorfer said Thursday.

Bwana Bull, according to Hollendorfer, suffered superficial scrapes when he was flown to Louisville earlier this week and had to be treated with antibiotics. Because of that, Hollendorfer said "I'm probably going to scratch" from the Derby Trial. If he does scratch, Bwana Bull could run in the Derby. Bwana Bull has $125,000 in graded stakes earnings, which puts him in the top 20 amongst horses expected to enter the Derby.

"We came there with the intention of running in the Derby Trial," Hollendorfer said by phone from California. "But he got a little skinned up flying out there, and we had to give him antibiotics.

"We could run in the Derby, I guess. It's a possibility. He does have enough money, and my owners might want to run. He's probably going to scratch from the Derby Trial. If he does, I would maybe breeze him there on Monday."

Bwana Bull won the El Camino Real Derby earlier this year at Bay Meadows. He was fifth most recently in the Santa Anita Derby.