The Green Monkey Dealt Setback; Will Not Start at Saratoga

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By Claire Novak
The Green Monkey, this year's record-setting $16 million 2-year-old purchase, will not make his long-awaited debut at Saratoga Race Course, according to trainer Todd Pletcher.

"The Green Monkey pulled a gluteal muscle in his last work [August 2] and will be off for a couple of weeks, just jogging," Pletcher said Monday. "Unfortunately, he won't run at Saratoga."

The Green Monkey last breezed five furlongs in 1:03 2/5 over Saratoga's main track with retired Hall of Fame jockey Angel Cordero in the irons. He was pointing toward an undetermined race near the end of Saratoga's July 26-September 4 meet.

Michael Tabor, John Magnier, and Derrick Smith bought The Green Monkey, named for a golf course in Barbados, at the Fasig-Tipton Calder 2-year-old in training sale February 28.

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