WEST/KNEE INJURY KNOCKS DECLAN'S MOON OFF DERBY TRAIL - One of the early favorites for the 131st Kentucky Derby (Grade I) has been forced off the road to Churchill Downs by a knee injury.

Trainer Ron Ellis said Friday that Jay Em Ess Stable's Declan's Moon, the unbeaten 2-year-old champion of 2004 and winner of last week's Santa Catalina (GII) in his 2005 debut, had suffered what he described as a "small, non-displaced" bone chip in his left knee. Ellis was unsure of whether the injury would require surgery, but he said Declan's Moon had no chance to make the Kentucky Derby on Sat., May 7 at Churchill Downs.

"It looks like he's probably going to be out of training about 60 days either way," Ellis said, "and we don't have 60 days to spare." Ellis said the problem was discovered in X-rays of the knee that were ordered after he found heat in the Maryland-bred gelding's knee after his victory in the Santa Catalina.

"He's a hundred percent sound," said Ellis. "He's bouncing around the barn and he came out of the race great physically and mentally, other than what we discovered to be a non-displaced chip."

Despite the defection of his champion, Ellis still has a Kentucky Derby contender in his barn. B. Wayne Hughes' Don't Get Mad, a well-named son of Stephen Got Even, is scheduled to run next week in the $250,000 San Felipe (GII) at Santa Anita. He has won two-of-three career races and was a strong runner-up to Fusaichi Rock Star in his first start for Ellis in the San Vicente (GII).

The injury to Declan's Moon continues an extraordinary drought by 2-year-old champions in their attempt to win the Kentucky Derby the following spring. The last horse that earned an Eclipse Award at two and won the roses the following may was the great Spectacular Bid in 1979.

Uncle Denny Favored In El Camino Real - Stan Fulton's Uncle Denny, winner of the California Breeders' Champion Stakes, is the 2-1 morning line choice in Saturday's $200,000 El Camino Real Derby (GIII) at Northern California's Bay Meadows on Saturday.

The son of In Excess is coming off a fourth-place finish to Going Wild in the Sham Stakes at Santa Anita. The loss was his first in four races, although one of his three victories came via disqualification in a Hollywood Park allowance race in November. Northern California riding king Russell Baze will ride Uncle Denny for trainer Rafael Becerra. His major rivals appear to be Stellar Magic, winner of the San Mateo Mile; Golden Gate Derby winner Buzzards Bay; and Big Top Cat, who makes his stakes debut for Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas.

CENTRAL/HIGH LIMIT FACES SCIPION IN LOUISIANA DERBY - Mary and Gary West's unbeaten High Limit, making his first start for Hall of Fame trainer Bobby Frankel, looks to establish credentials as a Kentucky Derby (Grade I) contender as he faces Risen Star (GIII) winner Scipion and seven other rivals in Saturday's $600,000 Louisiana Derby (GII) at the Fair Grounds in New Orleans.

The son of Maria's Mon comes into the race as an unknown quantity - but the power of Frankel's name has helped establish him as the 5-2 morning line favorite. He romped to easy wins in a pair of races last fall at Delaware Park - taking them by a combined margin of 18 ½-lengths for trainer Anthony Dutrow - before the colt was turned over to Frankel.

Ramon Dominguez will ride High Limit, who will break from post number three.

Virginia Kraft Payson's Scipion, a stretch-running winner of the Risen Star, returns to the Fair Grounds from California for trainer Patrick Biancone. Three-time Kentucky Derby-winning jockey Gary Stevens will ride the regally bred son of A.P. Indy.

Other contenders in the 1 1/16-mile Kentucky Derby prep include Overbrook Farm's Storm Surge, winner of the Lecomte (GIII) and third in the Risen Star for trainer Dallas Stewart; Cathy and Bob Zollars' Real Dandy, the runner-up in the Risen Star for trainer Steve Asmussen; and Stonerside Stable's Sort It Out, who makes his first start for new trainer Bob Baffert after compiling a string of three consecutive wins at New York's Aqueduct that included the Whirlaway Stakes; and Sarah Lyn Stables LLC's Kansas City Boy, who scratched from last week's Fountain of Youth (GII) at Gulfstream Park in favor of a run in New Orleans.

EAST/BELLAMY ROAD BACK IN ACTION - Trainer Nick Zito already has four solid Kentucky Derby contenders in his barn, but he could add a fifth name after he saddles Bellamy Road in a Saturday allowance race at Gulfstream Park.

The son of Concerto won last year's Miller Genuine Draft Cradle Stakes at River Downs for trainer Michael Dickinson, but was turned over to Zito by Kinsman Stud, the racing stable of New York Yankees owner George Steinbrenner. Bellamy Road's opposition in the one-mile allowance race includes the well-regarded Dearest Mon.

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