A hiccup for Mendelssohn’s travel to Kentucky Derby 2018

Mendelssohn’s bid to win the 2018 Kentucky Derby as a European shipper — something that hasn’t yet happened in the race’s history — hit a snag Monday when the colt’s flight was rerouted from Louisville to Indianapolis.

As a result, he arrived to Churchill Downs just before 10 p.m. ET,  according to the track's publicity department, four to five hours later than originally planned.

Horse Racing Nation was told a paperwork issue with a groom traveling alongside the Coolmore colt caused the issue, as all on board need to clear customs once in the United States.

A son of Scat Daddy, Mendelssohn runs for legendary Irish trainer Aidan O’Brien and has won races on three continents in as many races. He shipped and won the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf at Del Mar, returned to take Ireland’s Patton Stakes and then romped by 18 1/2 lengths in the Group 2 UAE Derby last out.

Mendelssohn will be required to quarantine at Churchill Downs and isn't expected to train there until Thursday. But that has been O’Brien’s plan all along. This is not his first Derby, with Master of Hounds’ fifth-place finish in 2011 his best result from five previous starters.