DERBY NOTES (4/26): Smooth Air back to normal, track
 

In a developing situation that could result in his defection from the Derby starting grid, Mount Joy Stables' Smooth Air spiked a slight fever Friday that prevented his going to the track for a scheduled gallop. Trainer Bennie Stutts, who at 70 is looking to run in his first Kentucky Derby, said the Florida Derby runner-up will not go to the track Saturday having been treated with antibiotics for what he suspects is a low grade infection. Stutts added that if he could not get Smooth Air back to the track by Monday, he would likely be forced to not enter the son of Smooth Jazz in the 134th running of the Kentucky Derby. A media advisory is scheduled for 8am at Churchill Downs.

that sucks

Man.........
 

Steve, that would be such a shame for Stutts, I hope those antibiotics work.

Things quite a bit better this morning then yesterday. Temp normal and is back into the feedtub. If he stays normal the full day, Stutts is confident that he'll be OK to go. But if he can't get to the track by Monday, then it.s doubtful.

Man...what a bummer for all involved..hope things turn around..but has to make you think twice when approaching the windows.

Thanks for the info Steve!

Fingers crossed...

1/9 odds he's entered.

they're just trying to boost the odds. He's fine.

I guess if he runs and runs like dogsh*t - connections would have an excuse already postulated.

wow, I go to equibase.com and see Byks name under the Smooth Air story.

Stutts deserves to have a derby horse, but Smooth Air not running opens up a def. spot for Denis of Cork, which wouldn't bother me.

HRTV (Carolyn Conley) just interviewed Todd Pletcher. Behindatthebar's owner is leaving the decision to Todd Pletcher whether to enter the Derby. He will make the decision by Tuesday. Thus, it appears that Behindatthebar is not definite for the Derby yet. I read in DRF that David Flores will ride Bob Black Jack instead of Richard Migliore if Behindatthebar does not go in the Derby.

Flores is off Bob Black Jack. That from Kasparoff, his brother and brother's partner to their friend Darren Rogers, Churchill's Director of Communication's. Mig is coming in for BBJ's Monday work.

Interesting. Based on Jay Privman's article in DRF today, Brad Pegram (the agent of Flores) does not appear to be aware of that.

I noticed the headline to this thread was on the front page of equibase.com today...pretty cool. "Smooth Air's Derby Start in Jeopardy... By Steve Byk and Steve Haskin". Nice!

Good job Kasept on the article and I hope Smooth Air is able to make the gate.

UPDATE: Things improved for Smooth Air throughout Saturday and he returned to the track this morning.
http://tcm.bloodhorse.com/viewstory.asp?id=44861


(And as an aside.. thanks to those above for the kind acknowledgements re: B-H..)

Great news.....
 

Thanks for update Steve.

not a good time to miss two days' training, and come down with a little something.