Proud Accolade, Rush Bay to miss Louisiana Derby

Hutcheson  winner Proud Accolade has spiked a fever  (Michael J. Marten/Horsephotos.com)

Champagne S. (G1) hero PROUD ACCOLADE (Yes It's True) spiked a fever over the

weekend in Florida and will miss Saturday's $600,000 Louisiana Derby (G2) at

Fair Grounds, trainer Todd Pletcher said.

"He spiked a temperature," Pletcher said. "It's obviously bad timing. We'll

just try to get him back right."

Proud Accolade rolled to a 4 1/2-length victory in the Hutcheson S. (G2) at

Gulfstream Park in his three-year-old debut on February 5. The dark bay colt has

four wins in six starts and earnings of $454,130.

Pletcher originally planned to send both Proud Accolade and VICARAGE (Vicar)

to New Orleans for the Louisiana Derby. With Proud Accolade staying in

the barn, go-to rider John Velazquez will assume the mount on Vicarage in the 8

1/2-furlong Louisiana Derby.

Vicarage most recently finished third to Proud Accolade and Park Avenue Ball

(Citidancer) in the seven-furlong Hutcheson. The dark bay colt won a first-level

allowance race going six furlongs at Gulfstream Park in his three-year-old debut

after closing out his juvenile campaign with an eighth-placed effort going one-mile on the turf at Belmont Park.

"It's time to see how he (Vicarage) handles two turns on the dirt," Pletcher

said. "We're optimistic."

Kentucky Jockey Club S. (G2) runner-up RUSH BAY (Cozzene), who finished a

disappointing eighth in the Risen Star S. (G3) on February 12, will skip the

Louisiana Derby and possibly resurface in stakes or allowance competition at

Oaklawn Park, according to trainer Tom Amoss.

"We're not running in the Louisiana Derby," Amoss said. "The owner (Phoebe

Mueller) is from Arkansas, so we'll look there."

As of Tuesday, a field of eight is coming together for the Louisiana Derby,

comprised of six shippers from California and Florida and a pair of locally based colts.

Risen Star stakes winner SCIPION (A.P. Indy), trained by Patrick Biancone,

and Delta Jackpot S. winner TEXCESS (In Excess [Ire]) will travel from

the West Coast. Undefeated HIGH LIMIT (Maria's Mon), Holy Bull S. (G3) runner-up

KANSAS CITY BOY (Boston Harbor), Futurity S. (G2) runner-up WALLSTREET SCANDAL

(Mt. Livermore) and the Nick Zito-trained INDY STORM (A.P. Indy) are expected to

ship in

from Florida.

REAL DANDY (Yankee Victor) and LeComte S. (G3) winner STORM SURGE (Storm

Cat), who finished second and third in the Risen Star, will represent the

Fair Grounds-based contingent.

Post positions for the Louisiana Derby will be drawn on Wednesday.