Smithfield Is Latest Derby Casualty

Three local 3-year-olds who were scheduled to run in Saturday’s $1-million Santa Anita Derby have been declared out. Smithfield was the latest to be sidelined, and his injury is more serious than that of either Odyle or Afleetaffair.

Second in the San Felipe Stakes on March 17, Smithfield was discovered to have broken the sesamoid bone in his left front foot and will be out anywhere from six months to a year, according to trainer and part-owner Charlie Whittingham.

Earlier in the week, San Felipe winner Odyle was turned out because of a minor injury to his left front ankle. San Vicente winner Afleetaffair came down with an undisclosed minor problem and won’t run until either the California Derby on April 13 at Golden Gate or the Lexington at Keeneland on April 21.

Smithfield’s injury was discovered after the son of Halo, who has one win, three seconds and two thirds in eight starts, worked five furlongs in 1:00 1/5 Friday morning at Santa Anita.

“He was going easy, the track had just been harrowed and everything seemed to be fine,” said Whittingham, who owns the colt along with Jack Mandato and Arthur B. Hancock III. “He must have taken a bad step. It’s unfortunate, but it happens.

Even though Smithfield won’t run, Whittingham, who won the Santa Anita Derby in 1987 with Temperate Sil and two years later with Sunday Silence, may have a horse in the race. He hasn’t ruled out Corker, the half-brother to 1994 Kentucky Derby runner-up Strodes Creek who has been the beaten favorite in his last two starts in allowance races.

Derby entries will be taken Thursday morning, and there appear to be eight possibilities: Alyrob, Honour And Glory, Cavonnier, Corker, Matty G, Prince Of Thieves, Super Mining and E.C.’s Dream.

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Looking for his fifth consecutive victory and seventh in his last nine starts, Tychonic is the 7-5 favorite against five opponents today in the $125,000 El Rincon Handicap, a one-mile turf race.

Much improved since Gary Stevens became his regular rider, Tychonic began his current streak with two wins at Hollywood Park, then won the Rebs Policy and Arcadia Handicap at Santa Anita. He is trained by Bobby Frankel for Juddmonte Farms.

Two of the horses who finished behind Tychonic in the Arcadia return in the El Rincon--second-place finisher Debutant Trick, the 9-5 second choice; and Adams Trail, who was fourth after a slow start. He is the co-third choice at 5-1.