Danzing Candy exits Derby with entrapped epiglottis

Edited from Churchill Downs press release

Cliff Sise Jr., trainer of Kentucky Derby (G1) pacesetter Danzing Candy, who finished 15th, said an endoscopic exam after the race revealed that the colt had "a little thickness in the epiglottis."

"He entrapped a little bit," Sise said Sunday morning.

Following Saturday's race, Danzing Candy's rider, Mike Smith said, "As loud as the crowd was, I could hear him (breathing hard) down the lane. When I pulled him up, he sounded like a lion."

Sise said medication should correct the problem. There are no immediate race plans for Danzing Candy, who will return to his Southern California home base Tuesday.

Trojan Nation, the Derby 16th-place finisher, was headed back to California Sunday on a flight that contained several other Santa Anita-based runners who were brought east for stakes engagements at Churchill Downs this past week. 

Trainer Paddy Gallagher also was westbound on an early flight, glad for the Derby experience and glad his big maiden had come out of it all in good shape.

“He seemed fine this morning,” the Irishman said.

Trainer Mike Maker reported Sunday at 8:45 a.m. (EDT) that Oscar Nominated, 17th in the Kentucky Derby, come out of the race in good order and was on his way back to his nearby home at the Trackside Training Center.

Oscar Nominated was making his first start on dirt Saturday and following the race his rider Julien Leparoux said the Kitten's Joy colt was "spinning his wheels." Maker said following the race that Oscar Nominated likely would be returned to turf.

Grupo 7C Racing Stable’s Majesto came out of the race in good order according to trainer Gustavo Delgado. Delgado said plans for the colt are undecided.

Even after finishing 19th of 20 in Saturday's Kentucky Derby, Whitmore remained the same “happy” horse he's been all week Sunday morning.

“We took him out to graze this morning and he walked,” trainer Ron Moquett said. “He's walking good. He's happy. We'll live to fight another day. I think the jock (Victor Espinoza) made it look worse than it really was.”

Danzing Candy photo courtesy Churchill Downs/Coady Photography.