Yockey's Warrior will miss Count Fleet

Yockey’s Warrior, the best sprinter at Fair Grounds this winter, has missed training with a splint-bone injury and won’t make his intended start April 14 in the $400,000 Count Fleet Sprint Handicap at Oaklawn, trainer Al Stall said.

“He has an old splint that started to bother him,” said Stall, who also is a part owner of Yockey’s Warrior. “I just shut him down and cooled him out, so he’s going to miss that race. Since we’ve got time on our side, we’re not going to play around.”

Yockey’s Warrior is scheduled to resume training after shipping to Churchill Downs in early April, Stall said. A 6-year-old, Yockey’s Warrior easily won the Thanksgiving Handicap and the Duncan Kenner Stakes in his two starts at the ongoing Fair Grounds meet.

◗ Jockey Corey Lanerie has been suspended by Fair Grounds stewards for four race days starting March 25. Lanerie can ride the Louisiana Derby card on March 24, but that will be his last day in action this Fair Grounds meet. The suspension comes from Lanerie’s ride in the third race Friday, where his mount, Silver Dust, was disqualified from first to second for fouling Mighty Manfred in deep stretch.