Report: A ‘setback’ for 2018 Kentucky Derby hopeful Mask

Trainer Chad Brown told the Daily Racing Form on Tuesday that Mask, an unbeaten 3-year-old who was to jump on the 2018 Kentucky Derby trail in his next start, “unfortunately had a setback.”

Brown declined to disclose what will keep Mask from starting as scheduled in the Grade 2, $400,000 Risen Star Stakes set for Feb. 17 at Fair Grounds.

A son of Tapit, Mask is 2-for-2, with both his victories coming impressively around one turn. Last time out in the Jan. 6 Mucho Macho Man Stakes, he hit the wire 6 1/4 lengths ahead of Bal Harbour, a stakes winner, starting the Derby hype machine for the $685,000 yearling purchase.

Mask returned to the work tab on Jan. 20, moving in company with Pegasus World Cup contender Stellar Wind. He was clocked at 49.75 seconds for four furlongs but did not breeze the following week, indicating trouble.

“He’s expected to be 100 percent very soon,” Brown told DRF. “I won’t make any decisions about his next race until I see him breeze.”

Others still under consideration for the Risen Star include the 1-3 finishers of the Grade 3 Lecomte — Instilled Regard, Principe Guilherme and Snapper Sinclair — along with recent Oaklawn Park allowance winner Bravazo.