Caddo River removed from Kentucky Derby contention
At 0h02, on April 26, 2021 • By CHURCHILL DOWNS
Shortleaf Stable’s homebred Caddo River was taken out of Kentucky Derby consideration Sunday morning by trainer Brad Cox because of an elevated temperature.
“We noticed he was off his feed and took his temperature yesterday afternoon. It was slightly elevated,” Cox said. “It’s just really bad timing being this close to the Derby. We drew blood on him (Sunday) morning and his white cell counts were a little high. We just can’t run him on Saturday with being a little off his game.”
The defection of Caddo River moves Mark Schwartz’s Brooklyn Strong into No. 20 on the Road to the Kentucky Derby leaderboard. Trained by Daniel Velazquez, Brooklyn Strong is scheduled to work Monday morning at 6 o’clock (all times Eastern) at Parx. If all goes well, Brooklyn Strong would leave at 6 p.m. with an early Tuesday morning arrival at Churchill Downs anticipated.
Cox’s remaining two Kentucky Derby starters, Mandaloun and Essential Quality, are scheduled to train early Monday.
