Jan. 30 (UPI) -- Kentucky Derby favorite and last year's 2-year-old champion Ted Noffey won't make it to the run for the Roses because of bone bruising, and some of the other contenders are sitting out planned prep races this weekend because of the awful winter weather.
Spendthrift Farm announced Thursday that Ted Noffey underwent a battery of tests when trainer Todd Pletcher noted he hadn't bounced back normally after a routine workout. The report was bone bruising and the prescription was something like three months on the sidelines.
At best, the Into Mischief colt could be back in time for the big summertime 3-year-old stakes. In the meantime, he was such a solid Derby favorite that his departure leaves the race wide open, making weather-related delays even more irritating.
Gulfstream Park, unaffected by the winter blast, offers the Holy Bull Stakes at 1 1/16 miles and the Swale at 7 furlongs, both Saturday. The Withers was to headline Aqueduct's Saturday program before the New York Racing Association pulled the plug on weekend racing because of arctic temps. Oaklawn Park earlier rescheduled the $1 million Southwest Stakes for next weekend.
On the warm(er) weather front, Santa Anita and Tampa Bay Downs have graded stakes on turf and dirt for older horses.
