Derby Hopeful Piscitelli Sidelined

William C. Schettine’s 3-year-old Piscitelli will be sidelined for 90 days after sustaining an injury in the Jan. 23 Holy Bull Stakes (gr. III) at Gulfstream Park it was announced Feb. 1. Piscitelli’s trainer, Richard W. Sacco, confirmed the son of Victory Gallop colt will be out of training the months of February, March, and April and miss a run at the Triple Crown events including the May 1 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I).

Piscitelli weighted at 120 pounds on the 2009 Experimental Free Handicap based on his third-place finish in the Arlington-Washington Futurity (gr. III), fifth-place effort in the Dixiana Breeders’ Futurity (gr. I)) at Keeneland, and fourth-place finish in and the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (gr. I). Piscitelli was beaten by only three-quarters of a length in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Santa Anita Park by champion Lookin At Lucky and Vale of York, the co-highweights on the Experimental.

Piscitelli has a 1-1-1 slate from six starts and $181,570 in earnings.

Out of the Relaunchmare Rayelle, Piscitelli was bred in Kentucky by Jerry and Ann Moss. Consigned to the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Co.’s April sale of 2-year-olds by Harris Training Center, agent, Schettine purchased Piscitelli for $60,000.

The colt will remain with his trainer at Palm Meadows Training Center in Boynton Beach, Florida.

Sacco said that Piscitelli was eased out of the running of the Holy Bull Stakes after jockey Kent Desormeaux felt something was wrong about three-eighths of a mile into the race. Piscitelli finished eighth in the Holy Bull. He was off in his right hind following the race and digital X-rays were taken of his hocks, stifles, and fetlocks by Dr. Luis Castro. Piscitelli was then sent to Palm Beach Equine Clinic for further evaluation, and a bone scan revealed trauma sustained to the right hind cannon bone.

“Piscitelli has a deep bone bruise at the bottom of his right hind cannon bone. Although it is painful, horses with this injury can make a complete recovery with 90 days rest,” said Castro.

“The prognosis for soundness and a full recovery is excellent and we are thankful to have the opportunity to race this talented colt again in the future,” Sacco said. “Hopefully, we will be ready for races like the Haskell (gr. I), Travers (gr. I), and Pennsylvania Derby (gr. II) toward the end of summer and early fall.”