Cupid emerged as a top Kentucky Derby contender after a wire-to-wire victory in the March 19 Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs. Then he ran in the Arkansas Derby on Saturday.
Now Cupid is being pointed to the Preakness Stakes on May 21.
Cupid's 10th-place finish, with the condition entrapped epiglottis as a contributing factor, convinced trainer Bob Baffert to withdraw Cupid from Derby consideration Monday.
Baffert said the gray Tapit colt underwent surgery Monday to clear the passageway in his throat at Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital Lexington, Ky., after arriving on a plane from Arkansas with Arkansas Derby winner Creator and third-place finisher Whitmore.
The issue is not considered serious. Baffert said Cupid "should be OK in a week" and would be under consideration for the Preakness.
Baffert, who trained American Pharoah to become the first Triple Crown winner in 37 years in 2015, is down to one probable Derby starter, Mor Spirit, the second-place finisher in the April 9 Santa Anita Derby. Baffert said Mor Spirit would fly to Kentucky on Friday and head straight to Churchill Downs. He said Mor Spirit would not work at Santa Anita this week and would work next at Churchill Downs.
Cupid's defection moves Mo Tom into the Derby field at No. 20 on the qualifying points leaderboard. The Derby field is limited to 20 starters.
Cupid had earned 50 points when winning the Rebel Stakes, which put him squarely in the top 20 on the points list compiled by Churchill Downs to determine the maximum 20-horse field for the Derby. His defection puts Mo Tom into the top 20, and now Fellowship is on the bubble, ranked 21st.
Baffert said Cupid would head to Churchill Downs later this week and be based there for the time being. Baffert said if Cupid recovers quickly from the surgery, he would be pointed to the Preakness Stakes.
The Arkansas Derby was the last of the 34 races in which horses could earn points toward a berth in the Derby. Creator and Suddenbreakingnews, the top two finishers in the race, earned enough points to vault into the top 20 and make the Derby field.
Dazzling Gem, who finished fourth, is 24th on the list with 30 points. Immediately above him are Fellowship, Adventist, and Laoban, all of whom have 32 points. Mo Tom also has 32 points but is ranked above Fellowship, Adventist, and Laoban owing to the tiebreaker, earnings in unrestricted stakes races.
At Churchill Downs on Monday, Gun Runner, the Louisiana Derby winner, worked 5 furlongs in 1:00, which tied for the fastest work of the morning at the distance. Gun Runner, a son of Candy Ride, is trained by Steve Asmussen, who also trains Creator.
"They're two extremely talented individuals with great conformation and huge pedigrees," Asmussen said Saturday, minutes after the Arkansas Derby.
Also on Monday, Mohaymen, who suffered his first loss to Derby favorite Nyquist last time out in the Florida Derby, galloped after arriving Sunday from Florida.
Information for this article contributed by The Associated Press, Daily Racing Form and bloodhorse.com
Sports on 04/19/2016