KY Derby 144 field update

LEXINGTON, Ky. (WTVQ) – And they’re off…the board.

Kentucky Derby 144 hopefuls Quip and Gronkowski are no longer in the field for the first Saturday in May.

Quip, the Tampa Bay Derby winner, placed behind Magnum Moon in the Arkansas Derby.

The connections just don’t think 3 weeks of rest is enough to run the 1 ¼ mile after giving it everything at Oaklawn; he’ll point toward the Preakness Stakes instead.

Gronkowski pulled due to an infection.  He spiked a fever over the weekend and has been treated with antibiotics for what appears to be minor.

The infection will keep him from shipping to Churchill Downs.  Gronkowski is the namesake of the New England Patriots’ tight end who recently purchased a stake in the horse.

Todd Pletcher’s contingent arrived in Louisville Monday; Magnum Moon was among them…Audible, Noble Indy and Vino Rosso the others.

With the two defections, Combatant and Instilled Regard now make the field of 20.