Windsor Castle Likely to Miss Derby

Windsor Castle, who came down with a high fever several weeks ago, finally seems to be coming back to himself and should be back under tack sometime this week. But trainer Frank Alexander said the colt lost some muscle tone and he does not anticipate a start before April, which would all but eliminate him from Derby consideration. "It'll be hard for him to make the big one," Alexander said.

Dogwood president Cot Campbell previously said Windsor Castle developed the fever several days after a Jan. 6 workout. "It's nothing serious and he's normal now, but it's thrown a monkey wrench into (trainer) Frank Alexander's schedule for him," Campbell said.

Alexander, who previously owned Windsor Castle, retained an interest in the colt with Dogwood and continues to train him.

In seven starts as a 2-year-old, Windsor Castle had three wins and two placings, with earnings of $209,100. Included in the colt's victories was the grade II Remsen Stakes and he was second in the Cowdin and Nashua Stakes, both grade III.