Mabee Horse a Derby Scratch

John Mabee of San Diego came early to Churchill Downs so he could watch his Souvenir Copy run in today’s $100,000 Derby Trial Stakes. But before that, Mabee learned Friday that his Event Of The Year, one of the favorites for next Saturday’s Kentucky Derby, would miss the race because of a broken bone in the right front knee.

Trainer Jerry Hollendorfer, the Bay Area fixture who has never run a horse in the Derby, took the news about Event Of The Year hard. After spending a few minutes next to his barn, explaining the injury to reporters, Hollendorfer went into the office and slammed the door.

“I’m sorry he’s not going to run,” said Hollendorfer, who was near tears when he left.

Early Friday, Event Of The Year continued a series of formidable workouts at Churchill by going five furlongs in :59 4/5 seconds. Donna Barton was aboard. Thinking the colt he had bred had come out of the workout in good order, Mabee left Hollendorfer’s barn to switch his attention to Souvenir Copy, trained by Bob Baffert.

“He must have gotten hurt during the breeze,” Hollendorfer said. “It’s a slab fracture of the right knee. He was cooling out after the work, and after 20 minutes you could see that he was wrong.”

The injury, to the biggest bone in a horse’s knee, is not life threatening, and Event Of The Year was to undergo surgery late Friday. Larry Bramlage, a veterinarian in nearby Lexington, Ky., is in charge.

“There’s a good chance for full recovery,” Hollendorfer said. “The prognosis is that he might be back [to run] in six months.”

Event Of The Year, a well-bred son of Seattle Slew and Classic Event, a Mr. Prospector mare, was undefeated in four races. The Daily Racing Form had made him the 4-1 third choice in the Derby, behind Baffert’s Indian Charlie at 5-2 and Halory Hunter at 7-2.

Event Of The Year, who won his first three races at Bay Meadows, added a victory in the Jim Beam Stakes at Turfway Park in Florence, Ky., on March 29. He was trying to become the first undefeated horse to win the Derby since Seattle Slew in 1977. Also, he was given a good chance to become the first Derby winner from Northern California. Russell Baze would have ridden him.

“He was the horse I feared most,” said Baffert, who will also run Real Quiet in the Derby. “I feel real bad for Mr. Mabee. He came over to the barn, and you could see how excited he was about [Friday’s] workout. [Event Of The Year] and Indian Charlie had shown the same kind of brilliance.”

Indian Charlie, also undefeated in four races, and Real Quiet ran 1-2 in the Santa Anita Derby. Event Of The Year is the second top contender knocked out of the Derby by an injury. Lil’s Lad, second in the Blue Grass at Keeneland two weeks ago, is out because of a chipped ankle.

“First, Lil’s Lad and now, Event Of The Year,” said Baffert, who won the Derby last year with Silver Charm. “You take a deep breath every time you work one of these horses.”

Baffert’s horses worked Thursday--Indian Charlie in a rousing :58 4/5 and Real Quiet in :59 3/5--over a track that was listed only as good because of recent rain. Event Of The Year’s workout was postponed a day because of the off track.

“I definitely don’t want this to sound like a criticism of anyone, but injuries to Derby horses are not coincidental,” said trainer Mike Puype, who will saddle Old Trieste for the Derby. “We’re all pushing our horses at this time of year, trying to take our best shot, because we know they’ve got to be really fit to be ready for a mile and a quarter.

“We were looking at the records of the top five horses the other day, and I said that it’s almost inevitable that one of them wouldn’t make the race. What happened to Event Of The Year could have happened to any of our horses.”

Puype said Event Of The Year’s injury would help Indian Charlie, because both horses have similar running styles. Indian Charlie figures to be tracking the leaders, not far off the early pace.

Mabee reportedly left Louisville for San Diego after learning about Event Of The Year’s injury. There are 15 definite starters for the Derby: Indian Charlie, Real Quiet, Halory Hunter, Cape Town, Victory Gallop, Artax, Favorite Trick, Old Trieste, Hanuman Highway, Parade Ground, Nationalore, Basic Trainee, Chilito, Robinwould and Rock And Roll.

Horse Racing Notes

Of the eight horses running in the one-mile Derby Trial, only Yarrow Brae might run back in the Kentucky Derby. The Trial frequently becomes a prep for the Preakness, which will be run on May 16 at Pimlico in Baltimore. Yarrow Brae, who has won two of 11 starts, finished second, five lengths behind Event Of The Year, in the Jim Beam.

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Kentucky Derby Starters

There are 15 for the Kentucky Derby:

Indian Charlie

Real Quiet

Halory Hunter

Cape Town

Victory Gallop

Artax

Favorite Trick

Old Trieste

Hanuman Highway

Parade Ground

Nationalore

Basic Trainee

Chilito

Robinwould

Rock And Roll