Report: Gouverneur Morris sidelined from Kentucky Derby by colitis

Gouverneur Morris is off the 2020 Kentucky Derby trail after being diagnosed with colitis.

Bloodhorse reports that the son of Constitution is being treated at the Mid-Atlantic Equine Medical Center and is expected to be out of action for a couple of months.

The colt, owned by Team Valor International and WinStar Farms, became ill Monday after being treated for a leg infection in a hyperbolic chamber at Fair Hill, according to the report.

"He did not look good at all," Team Valor CEO and founder Barry Irwin told Bloodhorse. "He was diagnosed with colitis, which can be very bad, but so far he is holding his own. Hopefully, within four to six days he can leave there, but this will knock him out and he will need a couple of months off."

In his last out, Gouverneur Morris, trained by Todd Pletcher, finished third in the Arksansas Derby division won by Charlatan on May 2. Before that, he came in fourth in the Florida Derby on March 28 after starting the year with a score in an allowance optional claiming race at Tampa Bay Downs in February.

As a 2-year-old, he broke his maiden in September at Saratoga and next out placed second in the Breeders' Cup Futurity at Keeneland in October.

His connections had decided to bypass the Belmont Stakes and planned to run Gouverneur Morris in the July 11 Bluegrass Stakes (G2) at Keeneland.