Toby's Corner, who upset juvenile champion Uncle Mo in the Resorts Casino New York Wood Memorial (gr. I), has been withdrawn from the May 7 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I).
Late on May 2, Motion noticed the colt was off in his left rear and Toby's Corner was sent to New Bolton Center in West Chester, Pa., to be examined. The colt spent the night at New Bolton and all the tests proved negative. He returned to Motion's farm near Fair Hill earlier May 3.
Officials at Churchill Downs said May 3 that additional details would be provided later as to why trainer Graham Motion withdrew the Bellamy Road colt. Toby’s Corner was scheduled to ship Churchill Downs later May 3 from Motion’s base at Fair Hill Training Center in Maryland.
A homebred for Julian and Dianne Cotter, Toby’s Corner is out of the Mister Frisky mare Brandon’s Ride. He has a 4-0-2 record from six starts and has earned $722,240. In addition to the Wood Memorial, Toby’s Corner won the Whirlaway Stakes at Aqueduct Feb. 5. Between stakes victories he ran third behind Derby contender Stay Thirsty in the one-mile Gotham Stakes (gr. III) March 5.
The defection of Toby’s Corner opens the Kentucky Derby door for Ken and Sarah Ramsey’s Derby Kitten, winner of the April 23 Coolmore Lexington Stakes (gr. III).