{"id":104205,"date":"2019-05-03T13:43:20","date_gmt":"2019-05-03T20:43:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.casino.org\/news\/?p=104205"},"modified":"2019-05-03T13:43:20","modified_gmt":"2019-05-03T20:43:20","slug":"hoof-issue-forces-haikal-from-derby-omaha-beach-surgery-successful","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.casino.org\/news\/hoof-issue-forces-haikal-from-derby-omaha-beach-surgery-successful\/","title":{"rendered":"Hoof Issue Forces Haikal from Derby; Omaha Beach Undergoes Successful Procedure"},"content":{"rendered":"

LOUISVILLE, Ky. \u2013 The Kentucky Derby saw another defection to the field Friday morning as the connections to Haikal pulled the 3-year-old out of the race.<\/p>\n

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Haikal, seen here training earlier this week, was scratched from the Kentucky Derby on Friday due to an abscess on his front left hoof. He is the second horse to be scratched from the race. (Image: Churchill Downs)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The colt developed an abscess on his left front hoof earlier in the week, and trainer Kiaran McLaughlin hoped \u00ad\u00adthe Gotham Stakes winner would be able to respond.<\/p>\n

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\u201cWe put shoes back on him this morning and jogged him and he was still not 100%,\u201d McLaughlin said. \u201cAfter speaking with (Shadwell Farms General Manager) Rick Nichols, we decided to scratch. The horse always comes first.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

McLaughlin said the horse will return to the Lexington, Ky., farm and \u201clive to fight another day.\u201d<\/p>\n

In five career starts, Haikal has won three times and earned $373,900.<\/p>\n

Haikal is now the second horse to be scratched from the race. On Wednesday, morning line favorite Omaha Beach<\/a>, who drew the No. 12 gate, was removed due to a throat ailment.<\/p>\n

Haikal drew the No. 11 gate in Tuesday’s pill pull for post positions. With the Derby field now at 19 entries, the 10 horses to the inside will move out. That means War of Will, who drew the No. 1 gate, will now race from the No. 2 gate.<\/p>\n

Omaha Beach\u2019s exit paved the way for Bodexpress to enter the race. He will race from the far outside post, while those who slated to run from gates 13-20 will move inside one spot.<\/p>\n

Omaha Beach Update<\/h2>\n

On Friday morning, Fox Hill Farms, Omaha Beach\u2019s owner, posted video on its Facebook page of the Rebel Stakes and Arkansas Derby winner\u2019s surgery to repair his entrapped epiglottis.<\/p>\n

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