Declan's Moon Out

The Derby has suffered its first major injury-related defection, as two year old champion Declan’s Moon is out with a "small, non-displaced chip" in his left knee. His trainer Ron Ellis continued:

"The veterinarians are still trying to decide whether or not it's going to require surgery. He's going to get 60 days off, and after that he'll be re-evaluated. Obviously that takes us out of all the big races at least through the summer."
…..
Ellis and his primary veterinarian, Dr. Herb Warren, said they suspect Declan's Moon suffered the injury during the Santa Catalina. "With all the rain we've had here, they've had to float the track so much, and maybe that has made the track too hard," he said. [Daily Racing Form]

In his column in Blood-horse the other day, Steve Haskin wrote of the gelding:

He did, however, come out of the [Santa Catalina] with a little heat in his knee, although trainer Ron Ellis said he believes it's "just normal stuff." Ellis went on to say the son of Malibu Moon was "walking fine and bouncing around the barn" and added that the race took nothing out of him. "This stuff usually cools out in a couple of days and then it's all gone," Ellis said. "It's not carrying any swelling or anything, so that's a good sign. He's been eating good and his attitude is great." [Bloodhorse]

Unfortunately, Ellis was being too optimistic. So once again, the juvenile champ will not win the Derby, continuing a long “jinx” that goes back to 1979 (Spectacular Bid was the last). This piece from the Dallas-FtWorth Star-Telegram (scroll down) lists the fate of all of them since the Bid; here’s the last ten

1994
Timber Country Third

1995
Maria's Mon Did not run

1996
Boston Harbor Did not run

1997
Favorite Trick Eighth

1998
Answer Lively 10th

1999
Anees 13th

2000
Macho Uno Did not run

2001
Johannesburg Eighth

2002
Vindication Did not run

2003
Action This Day Sixth