Sir Cherokee To Scratch From Kentucky Derby

LOUISVILLLE, Ky. (May 2, 2003) -- Domino Stud's Sir Cherokee, winner of the Arkansas Derby (GII), has suffered a minor leg injury and will be scratched from Saturday's Kentucky Derby.

Trained Mike Tomlinson said the injury was detected following a gallop by the son of Cherokee Run at Churchill Downs Trackside Louisville Training Center.

"He wasn't completely comfortable in his gallop," said Tomlinson. "We took a look at it, took an X-Ray and found a small fracture is his right rear (leg)."

Tomlinson said the injury is neither serious nor life threatening but the timing is very bad. "It's a bitter pill to swallow," he said. "We were excited about his chances. It's disappointing and we will be back."

Sir Cherokee would have been Tomlinson's first Derby starter and it would have been the first Derby mount for jockey Terry Thompson. Sir Cherokee would have started from Post Position 3 in the 17-horse field for the Kentucky Derby.

Bernie Hettel, Chief Steward and Executive Director of the Kentucky Racing Commission, said that the inside two horses (Supah Blitz and Brancusi) would move out one slot in the starting gate, leaving the inside position vacant.

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