No Derby for Anthony's Cross

INGLEWOOD, Calif. -- Trainer Eoin Harty said Sunday morning at Hollywood Park that Anthony's Cross will not ship from California to run in the Kentucky Derby, owing to concerns regarding a temperature the colt had in recent days.

Harty said the colt has not been affected in a major way and still could run in the $70,000 Alydar Stakes at Hollywood next Sunday, May 8, or in the May 14 Peter Pan at Belmont Park. The colt galloped Sunday at Hollywood Park instead of having what would have served as a potential pre-race breeze for the Derby.

Anthony's Cross had been the first alternate to make the 20-horse field for the Derby, which will be run Saturday at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky. With his defection, Derby Kitten, winner of the Coolmore Lexington Stakes at Keeneland, becomes the first alternate in case any of the 20 horses with secured spots are declared out before the entry deadline of 10 a.m. Eastern on Wednesday. Mr. Commons becomes the second alternate.

Anthony's Cross "has battled a temperature," said Harty. "The weather back there in Kentucky is terrible. I'd have to work him and ship him [Tuesday], and there is no guarantee he would get in. When you press the issue, it usually comes back to haunt you. Sometimes it's not meant to be."

Anthony's Cross, an Indian Charlie colt owned by A D K Racing of Arianne de Kwiatkowski, has won 2 of 7 starts, with a nose win in the Lewis Memorial in February being his biggest feat. He was most recently fifth in the April 9 Santa Anita Derby.

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