LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The Puma, the fifth choice at 8-1 in the early wagering for Saturday’s 152nd Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs, was scratched about 12 hours before the race was scheduled to be run due to a swollen pastern believed to be caused by a skin infection in his left front leg. Gustavo Delgado Jr., the assistant trainer to his father Gustavo Delgado, said Saturday morning that when he got to the barn the groom of The Puma informed him the horse had a swollen leg. “The horse has got a minor scratch, we think that might be the cause of the infection,” the younger Delgado said. “The horse is also lame on the leg when you jog him, so it was an easy decision to scratch him. It wasn’t a question of anything, we agreed to it.” Delgado said The Puma would need to be treated with antibiotics, but he didn’t expect the horse to be out a long time. “We’re really disappointed, we remain confident about his future,” Delgado said. “At this stage, we don’t believe it’s anything serious or long term. We’ll take it day by day, do what’s best for him. The horse comes first.” It is unlikely he could make the Preakness Stakes. :: DRF Kentucky Derby Package: Save on Past Performances, Clocker Reports, Betting Strategies, and more. The Puma is the fourth horse to be scratched from the body of the Kentucky Derby after the post positions were drawn for the race April 25. Previously scratched were Silent Tactic, Fulleffort, and Right to Party. Three of the four horses who were on the also-eligible list – Great White, Ocelli, and Robusta – all drew into the Derby field. Corona de Oro, the fourth also-eligible, was forced to scratch at 9 a.m. Friday, scratch time for the Derby. The Puma was considered a legitimate contender in the Kentucky Derby. As a maiden, in his third start, The Puma won the Grade 3 Tampa Bay Derby on March 7 and was beaten a nose by Commandment in the Grade 1 Florida Derby on March 28. Since he arrived in Kentucky, additional partners bought into The Puma, including Michael and Jules Iavarone and Bruce Zoldan. His original owners include The Delgados, who race under the banner OGMA Investments, JR Ranch, and High Step Racing. The Puma, who was to have been ridden by Javier Castellano, was scheduled to break from post 8 after the scratch of Right to Party. All horses drawn outside of The Puma will move in one spot in what is now a 19-horse field. After early wagering Saturday, Renegade was the 5-1 favorite for the Derby. He was followed by So Happy and Commandment, both at 6-1 and Further Ado at 7-1. :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.