Fri Mar 21 11:20:16 2008

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Arkansas Derby loses second prep victor

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Hot Springs, AR (Sports Network) - This year's $1 million Arkansas Derby will be without the two winners of Oaklawn's two major prep races. Rebel Stakes winner Sierra Sunset has been scratched from the April 12 race with an ankle injury, while Southwest Stakes champ Denis Of Cork will start in the Wood Memorial at Aqueduct on April 5.

Trainer Jeff Bonde announced on Thursday that X-rays revealed Sierra Sunset has a hairline fracture of the left front ankle.

"The first set of X-rays were clean, but when we took a second set, we found the hairline, Bonde said from Bay Meadows. "It's not bad enough to require surgery, but the colt will miss 60-to-90 days. He will take the next available flight back to California, and we'll go from there."

Sierra Sunset, owned by Philip Lebherz, Al Mariani, George Schmitt and Carol Wirth Trust Charles Wirth, has won four of 11 career starts for $428,696.

The colt was second to Denis of Cork in the Southwest Stakes last month. He began the year with a fourth-place finish in the San Rafael Stakes at Santa Anita, the same track where he won the California Cup Juvenile last November. His first stakes victory was the Bay Meadows Juvenile at Bay Meadows Race Course last September.

Trainer David Carroll will have Robby Albarado in the saddle for Denis of Cork's Wood Memorial start. Albarado, the jockey for 2007 Horse of the year Curlin, was aboard when Denis of Cork won the Southwest Stakes.

Denis of Cork is undefeated in three lifetime starts for owners Mr. and Mrs. William Warren, Jr. The colt has earned $198,552.

The Arkansas Derby has proven to be a major indicator of success in recent Triple Crown races.

Smarty Jones turned his 2004 win into victory in both the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes. The following year Arkansas Derby winner Afleet Alex captured the Preakness and Belmont Stakes after a third place finish in the Run for the Roses.

Two years ago Lawyer Ron won the Arkansas Derby and became one of the top handicap horses in 2007. Curlin captured last year's Arkansas Derby on his way to winning the Breeders' Cup Classic and being voted Horse of the Year. In between, Curlin was third in the Kentucky Derby, first in the Preakness and second to Street Sense in the Belmont Stakes.