Cairo Cat off Kentucky Derby trail

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Cairo Cat, winner of the Grade 3 Iroquois at Churchill Downs in September, has been diagnosed with an undisclosed ailment and is off the Kentucky Derby trail.

Kenny McPeek posted on his Twitter account late Tuesday that Cairo Cat has been sent for further examination to Dr. Larry Bramlage at the Rood and Riddle veterinary clinic in Kentucky, adding the problem does not appear to be serious. Cairo Cat had been stabled at Payson Park in Florida and was nearing his first breeze of the year when the issue surfaced.

Cairo Cat, owned by Walking L Thoroughbreds, was 59-1 as a separately listed interest in Pool 1 of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager in late November off back-to-back victories in a Saratoga maiden race and the Iroquois.