Muscle tear takes Ferocious off Kentucky Derby trail

Ferocious, last seen finishing fourth in the Grade 3 Holy Bull, is off the Kentucky Derby trail because of a muscle tear, part-owner and assistant trainer Gustavo Delgado Jr. confirmed Friday.

The injury was reported Friday by Mike Welsch of Daily Racing Form.

The son of trainer Gustavo Delgado said the injury occurred after the race. “It’s not a real serious injury, but it’s going to require some time,” he told DRF.

Delgado said his connections hope he can return to racing in the second half of the year.

Ferocious’s only win in five starts came in his August debut at Saratoga. He then was second in both the Hopeful (G1) and Breeders’ Futurity (G1) before finishing fifth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. The Holy Bull was his only start this year.

At 4 p.m. EST on Friday, the Flatter colt was 45-1 in the Kentucky Derby futures at Caesars Sportsbook Nevada.

He was at no. 19 on the Kentucky Derby leaderboard with 12 points.

Purchased as a 2-year-old for $1.3 million, Ferocious is owned by many of the connections of 2023 Kentucky Derby winner Mage, who also was trained by Delgado.