It was announced by Churchill Downs media April 30 that the Brad Cox trainee and Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) winner Fulleffort would be scratched from the May 2 Kentucky Derby (G1).
Owned by St. Elias Stable and Starlight Racing, the son of Liam's Map was set to make his first dirt start, having won on turf and synthetic races previously. Earning his way into the Derby starting gate by securing 100 points with his win in the Jeff Ruby, he will miss the Derby because of a chipped ankle. Cox will still be represented by two colts in the race, the Florida Derby (G1) winner Commandment and the Blue Grass Stakes (G1) winner Further Ado.
His defection makes room for Whit Beckman's Ocelli to draw into the field.
Read: So Close to the Derby Dream, Life on the Also-Eligible List
Winless in six starts, he earned his way onto the also-eligible list by running third in the Wood Memorial Stakes (G2) behind Riley Mott's Albus and Kenny McPeek's Right to Party. Owned by Ashley Durr, Anthony Tate, and Front Page Equestrian, Legion Bloodstock signed the ticket for the Connect colt for $12,000 at the 2024 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky October Yearling Sale.
"He is a really nice horse," Beckman said. "We're not doing anything the horse isn't ready for. At the end of the day, it's an amazing place to be in that Kentucky Derby, and when you have that shot, you hope it all goes well and that the fun continues."
