Intense Holiday Will Miss Belmont Stakes (Video)

Intense Holiday, most recently 12th in the Kentucky Derby, will miss the June 7 Belmont Stakes after being pulled up with an injury following a five-furlong breeze this morning in company with Belmont contender Commissioner. According to trainer Todd Pletcher, Intense Holiday suffered a condylar fracture of the right foreleg and will undergo surgery to repair the injury.

"It's not life-threatening, and I don't think it's career-ending," said Pletcher. "It's particularly frustrating because after the Derby we ran [all the tests] and everything indicated he was healthy and ready to move forward. It's unfortunate."

Both Intense Holiday and Commissioner, who had jockey Javier Castellano aboard, were timed in 1:00.77 for five furlongs.

"I thought Commissioner breezed very well," said Pletcher of the Grade 2 Peter Pan runner-up. "He was traveling well throughout and was willing; he seemed to be getting over the surface well and wrapped up good. He did everything you hoped he would do."

Pletcher said he thought Commissioner, a 1 1/8-mile maiden winner last summer at Saratoga Race Course, would not have difficulty negotiating the 1 ½-mile Belmont.

"I think the longer he goes, the better he will get," he said. "We've always felt he was all A.P. Indy and the further he goes, the better. We're looking forward to the distance."

Also breezing Sunday morning for Pletcher were last year's Belmont winner Palace Malice, who went a half-mile in 48.66 in company with Capo Bastone for the Grade 1, $1.25 Metropolitan Handicap, and Princess of Sylmar, who is being pointed to the Grade 1 Ogden Phipps, both on the Belmont Stakes undercard.

"Palace Malice breezed super," said Pletcher. "He seems to be in great form and we're excited about the race. Princess went in company with Percussion and she also went very well [five furlongs in 1:01.31]."