Social Inclusion has foot bruise, still possible for Preakness
Social Inclusion was scratched out of Saturday’s $75,000 Sir Bear Stakes at Gulfstream Park due to a bruised foot, but is still expected to ship to Baltimore later this week to run in the Preakness on May 17.
Owner Ron Sanchez said Social Inclusion galloped on Friday but trainer Manny Azpurua discovered a bruise on his right front hoof early Saturday morning. The one-mile Sir Bear was to have served as a final Preakness prep for Social Inclusion. Social Inclusion, who finished third in the Wood Memorial after posting easy victories in his first two starts, remained under consideration for the Kentucky Derby until Monday when he remained 22nd on the points list which determines eligibility for the race.
“It doesn’t appear to be serious but we don’t want to take the risk of running him today,” said Sanchez. “Everything now depends on how he heals, but if all goes well we plan to van him to Pimlico on Thursday and work him for the Preakness next Monday. Naturally we’d have liked to have had a prep before the Preakness, but he’s pretty fit, so it shouldn’t be an issue.”
Although Elvis Trujillo was named to ride Social Inclusion in the Sir Bear, his regular rider Jose Contreras will retain the mount for the Preakness.
“Jose couldn’t be here today, so we put Elvis on him for this race since he’d been working him for us here at Gulfstream,” said Sanchez