Oaklawn Park

Call Me Jamal to miss Arkansas Derby due to injury

Jay Privman|Mar 28, 2022

Call Me Jamal trains at Oaklawn on March 27

Coady Photography Call Me Jamal came out of this work on Saturday with filling in a leg.

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Call Me Jamal was an intended starter in the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby on Saturday, but he was not entered Sunday after emerging from a work earlier that morning with filling in a leg, trainer Mike Puhich said Monday at Oaklawn Park.

“He tweaked something,” Puhich said. “He’s never had a hiccup before.”

Call Me Jamal had worked six furlongs in 1:13.40. It was his third work since winning an allowance race here Feb. 26. He is 2 for 3 here this season. He won a maiden race Dec. 18, then was seventh in the Southwest Stakes Jan. 29.

Call Me Jamal is a gelding, and is a late foal – May 18 – so Puhich said he’ll take his time. While he wanted to run in the $1.25 million Arkansas Derby, he also wants to have a horse who will be around for a while.

:: DRF's Arkansas Derby Day headquarters – Previews, past performances, picks, and more

DRF Headlines

View All