El Kabeir problem could lead to Derby scratch

By: SPORTS NETWORK

Louisville, KY (SportsNetwork.com) - El Kabeir, third win the Wood Memorial, exhibited some tenderness Friday morning causing him to miss a scheduled gallop prior to Saturday's Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs.

"He just has a tender spot in the inside quarter of his left front foot. We're working on it. It could be a simple bruise. It could be an abscess forming there," trainer John Terranova said. "We're working on it.

"We'll see how he is later today and tomorrow morning. If everything looks good, he'll go out and train, exercise a little bit and stretch his legs. If he's not, we'll take him out of the race.

"He took a few cautious steps out of his stall this morning. Right away, it was a concern. It doesn't seem to be anything serious. Timing-wise, we'll have to wait and see. Hopefully we'll be good."

Owned by Zayat Stables, El Kabeir is 30-1 in the morning line for Saturday's 141st Run for the Roses and drew post 7 in the 20-horse field going 1 1/4 miles. Three-time Derby winning jockey Calvin Borel is slated to ride the gray colt.