The Kentucky Derby will now run with 19 horses instead of 20 after a late change shocked the field. Just hours before race time on Saturday, The Puma was pulled out. Officials at Churchill Downs said the horse had a swollen leg caused by a skin infection. The decision came less than 12 hours before the scheduled 6:57 p.m. ET starts. Because the scratch happened after the final deadline, Corona de Oro could not move into the race from the also-eligible list. That left the field one short. The Puma was seen as a strong contender. He opened at 10-1 odds and dropped to 8-1 by Friday as more bets came in.Trainer Gustavo Delgado Jr. spoke openly about the situation. “It’s incredibly disappointing, but the swelling should go down within a day or two,” he said. “It´s just really bad timing.” The update quickly spread, as fans and bettors adjusted to the sudden change.
The Puma scratch changes Kentucky Derby field as Gustavo Delgado Sr. and Gustavo Delgado Jr. miss second win chance
This was not just any late scratch. The Puma came from a strong team. Gustavo Delgado Sr. and Gustavo Delgado Jr. had already won the Derby in 2023 with Mage. They were hoping to repeat that success this year. But this sudden health issue ended that chance right before the race. The Puma also became the fourth horse to be scratched this week. The field had already been changing day by day. Silent Tactic was ruled out on Wednesday. Fulleffort followed on Thursday. Then Right to Party was scratched on Friday. After those exits, Great White, Ocelli, and Robusta moved into the lineup.Now, with The Puma out, no new horse can replace him. That is because the cutoff time had already passed. So, the race will go ahead with 19 horses. Even with these changes, attention now shifts to the favorite. Renegade still holds that spot. The colt is trained by Todd Pletcher and has stayed at the top since the morning line odds were released last week. There is also extra focus on his starting position. Renegade will break from the No. 1 post.That inside position has not produced a Derby winner in nearly 40 years. So, while he is the favorite, history is not on his side. Still, many believe he has the talent to overcome that. There is also an interesting family angle in this year’s race. Bill Mott and his son Riley Mott both have horses running. This is the first time since 1964 that a father and son each have a horse in the Derby field. It adds another layer to a race that has already seen many changes.With all these last-minute updates, the race feels even more open now. A top contender is gone. The field is smaller. And several new horses have stepped in during the week. That makes it harder to predict what will happen once the gates open. Still, the focus remains on the track. Fans are now waiting to see which horse takes advantage of this reshaped field and delivers on one of racing’s biggest stages.
