Kentucky Derby favorite Eskendereya won’t run

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Eskendereya, the favorite for Saturday’s Kentucky Derby, will not run because of an issue with his left front leg, trainer Todd Pletcher revealed Sunday morning in Kentucky.

Eskendereya won his last two races by a combined 18 1/4 lengths to establish himself as the favorite for the 1 1/4-mile race, the first leg of the Triple Crown.

With Eskendereya sidelined, the West Coast-based Lookin at Lucky, trained by Bob Baffert, will become the likely favorite, along with Santa Anita Derby winner Sidney’s Candy.

It’s the second consecutive year that the Kentucky Derby has lost a likely favorite for the race because of an injury. Last year, I Want Revenge was scratched on the morning of the Kentucky Derby.

-- Eric Sondheimer