Trainer D. Wayne Lukas announced Monday afternoon that Grade I winner Consolidator would be retired because of a fracture to his right front sesamoid. The injury is believed to have occurred during a routine gallop Sunday at Churchill Downs, site of Saturday's 131st Kentucky Derby.

"These type of things always seem to happen," Lukas said, adding, "You just hope it doesn't happen to you."

Consolidator, with exercise rider Stacy Prior in the saddle, took a few bad steps coming off the racetrack Sunday morning. Lukas said that was the first sign something was amiss. But the colt's Sunday afternoon walk around the shedrow made the Hall of Fame trainer even more concerned.

"All of my horses walk in the afternoon," Lukas said. "He was a little tentative on the turns and I was worried then. I wanted to sleep on it. When I got here at 5:30 in the morning (Monday), my vet (Dr. Phil Tripp) and I visited and I told him 'I didn't sleep good. Let's take an X-ray'."

Lukas said that Bob and Beverly Lewis' colt would not require surgery to repair the fracture and that Consolidator would be treated with stall rest. "I think he'll stay with me for a while," Lukas added. "He will not run again. I think he'll have a stud career. With sesamoid injuries, you can bring back a $25,000 claimer on Wednesday, but not this level of horse."

Consolidator, a $1.25 million purchase at the 2003 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, retires with three victories in 10 starts and earnings of $661,760. The son of Storm Cat is a two-time graded stakes winner, capturing the Grade I Lane's End Breeders' Futurity at age two and the Grade II San Felipe on March 19.

Sham Stakes winner Going Wild now will carry the Lukas and Lewis banner exclusively in Saturday's "Run for the Roses." One of Lukas' four Kentucky Derby victories was with Charismatic in 1999, also owned by the Lewises.

"We've been blessed - Bob and Beverly and especially myself - in this race," Lukas said. "It would be selfish of me to say, 'Oh, my gosh' and feel sorry for our situation."

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