Kentucky Derby: Quality Road, Square Eddie out of the Derby

One of the 2009 Kentucky Derby odds favorite, "Quality Road", has been pulled out of the Derby, trainer for the top contender announced in the beginning of the week. There was always a small question mark above Quality Road's participation in the famous horse race, nursing foot injury form the Florida Derby back in late March, but the odds makers took no chances and had this 2009 Kentucky Derby contender as one of the top 3 odds-on favorite to win. At the online sportsbook Bodog Sports Quality Road was sitting on second best odds 5/1 to win the 09 Kentucky Derby this past weekend, edged only by the top contender "I Want Revenge" who is now holding 5/2 odds to win the race on May 2nd.

But after Quality Road ran a mile and three quarters on Sunday and came back with blood on his hoof, his trainer Jimmy Jerkens took the decision on Monday to pull him out of the Kentucky Derby race. According to hoof specialist Ian McKinlay, who is taking care of Quality Road, he is expected to recover soon, but Jerkens will not race him for Kentucky Derby glory. The colt will not shoot for the Preakness Stakes and the Belmont Stakes, owner Edward Evans said. Meanwhile another thoroughbred, Square Eddie, was also pulled out of the 2009 Kentucky Derby after suffering from a shin injury. Square Eddie was a long shot with 35/1 odds to win the Derby.

Following the withdrawal of Quality Road, the odds on the 2009 Kentucky Derby have changed slightly to reflect the void left from the top contender's departure. At the online sportsbook Bodog Sports I Want Revenge is 5/2 odds-on favorite, followed by Dunkirk with 9/2 odds to win the Kentucky Derby and third favorite is Pioneer of the Nile who is sitting on 6/1 odds. At another popular offshore racebook, Bookmaker, "I Want Revenge" is holding Kentucky Derby odds +350, while Dunkirk and Pioneer of the Nile are sharing Derby odds +450. The odds on Friesan Fire to win the 2009 Kentucky Derby at Bookmaker are set at +600.

Published on 04/28/2009