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Life Is Good will not race in Santa Anita Derby or Kentucky Derby

Life Is Good and jockey Mike Smith win the $300,000 San Felipe Stakes on March 6 at Santa Anita Park.
(Benoit Photo)
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Kentucky Derby favorite Life Is Good is off the Derby trail after suffering an undetermined injury during a six-furlong workout Saturday. The 3-year-old colt ran the fastest time of any horse going that distance but when he got back to the barn trainer Bob Baffert noticed something was wrong with his hind end.

“He came back to the barn after the work and was off when he turned,” Baffert told the Daily Racing Form. “We have to do more tests on him. It’s nothing obvious, but he’s out of the Santa Anita Derby.”

Baffert later amended the prognosis and said the colt will be shipped to Kentucky for further examination, which would also take him out of the May 1 Kentucky Derby. Life Is Good has already accumulated 60 Derby points making him eligible for the race even if he didn’t run in the April 3 Santa Anita Derby.

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The injury is not believed to be career ending.

Life Is Good is undefeated in three starts. This year he won both the Sham Stakes and San Felipe Stakes at Santa Anita. He was the 2-1 Kentucky Derby favorite in the latest Futures pool.

He is owned by WinStar Farm and the China Horse Club, the main owners of Triple Crown winner Justify.

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