WinStar Farm and Twin Creeks Racing's TDN Rising Star Constitution (Tapit), the undefeated winner of the GI Florida Derby, will miss the GI Kentucky Derby and the balance of the Triple Crown after being diagnosed with a hairline fracture in his right front cannon bone Monday. Constitution breezed an easy half-mile in :50 3/5 at Palm Meadows this past Sunday and was found to be off in his right fore Monday morning. Constitution will head to WinStar Farm with the hopes of returning to training in two months' time and racing again in 2014.
“This is one of the biggest disappointments of my career,” said trainer Todd Pletcher. “I really feel Constitution was our biggest chance to win the Kentucky Derby since Super Saver. My routine with all my horses is to jog them down the road, and I noticed he was slightly off [Monday]. Dr. Yarborough took x-rays that revealed a slight hairline in his shin. Thankfully, it's nothing very serious, and Constitution will be back to 100% after a little time. The timing is just a real shame for everyone involved, but the Derby doesn't define a horse's career.”
“While we are extremely disappointed to miss the Kentucky Derby, we're just as excited about the future of Constitution,” said Randy Gullatt, Twin Creeks Racing's general manager. “We think he's just scratching the surface of his talent.”
WinStar President & CEO Elliott Walden added: “Todd has done a tremendous job with Constitution and I can't wait to get him back for two reasons: firstly, he has so much to accomplish, and secondly, he is the most exciting stallion prospect of his generation.”
Constitution overcame a slow start in his seven-furlong debut at Gulfstream to earn his Rising Star status and took a stakes-quality allowance in his two-turn debut in Hallandale Feb. 22. He remained perfect in the Florida Derby last time Mar. 29, sitting just behind the dueling Wildcat Red (D'wildcat) and General A Rod (Roman Ruler) before slipping up the fence and fighting his way to a neck success.
Constitution is a son of Baffled (Distorted Humor), a half-sister to GISW Emcee (Unbridled's Song) and a full-sister to G1SP Surfer
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