Eddie's First found to have bled, will miss stakes

DEL MAR, Calif. – Eddie’s First, last of seven in the Los Alamitos Super Derby on July 5, will miss Friday’s $200,000 Real Good Deal Stakes after bleeding from the lungs during exercise Tuesday, trainer Doug O’Neill said.

Eddie’s First collapsed on the track after bleeding Tuesday and pinned exercise rider Amir Cedeno. Cedeno was hospitalized and remained under care Wednesday morning, awaiting an MRI.

O’Neill said he won’t know how long Eddie’s First will be sidelined until further tests are conducted.

“He bled really badly,” O’Neill said. “As he was pulling up, he collapsed. We’ll X-ray his lungs and go from there, if he needs a few weeks or a few months.”

Eddie’s First has one win in seven starts. He beat maidens by 9 1/4 lengths on the hillside turf course at Santa Anita on May 11, setting a course record of 1:10.73 for about 6 1/2 furlongs.