Injury knocks Avery Island off Derby trail

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Trainer Kiaran McLaughlin has confirmed what already had been suspected, that Grade 3 Withers winner Avery Island is now officially off the Derby trail after returning lame from a routine workout at Palm Meadows last Friday.

McLaughlin sent Avery Island to Rood and Riddle Clinic in Kentucky for further evaluation earlier this week.

“He’s out for 60 days, then we’ll recheck him over, but basically he’s out for 90 days,” said McLaughlin. “They found some little stuff, nothing major, nothing that will require surgery. Just time off. So he’s out of the Triple Crown and we’ll hope he’s a nice fall 3-year-old or 4-year-old.”

McLaughlin said it’s a tough blow to take, especially at this time of the year.

“It hurts some,” said McLaughlin. “It’s tough to get horses that are his type, especially going to the Derby. It hurts everybody connected with him a lot. We’re lucky we have another one. I just hope we can get there with Enticed. I’m just glad he’s okay, because when they come back lame like that, you never know if it’s career ending.”

Both Avery Island and Enticed are owned by Godolphin.

◗ Apprentice Jockey Reylu Gutierrez will be sidelined at least four weeks, according to his agent, Bryce Soth, due to a back injury suffered after his mount, Coxswain, broke down during the running of Saturday’s fourth race.

“He’s got minor fractures of the P4, P5 and P6 vertebrae,” said Soth. “He’ll have to wear a back brace and will be evaluated again in four weeks. “

◗ Javier Castellano and Nik Juarez were the riding stars here this past weekend. Castellano won five races on Saturday, including the Grade 2 Inside Information aboard Ivy Bell. Juarez had his best day of the meet the following afternoon, winning four times on Sunday’s 13-race card.

◗ There will be a carryover of nearly $3.8 million in the Rainbow 6 jackpot when racing resumes with a 10-race program on Wednesday.