Sunland Derby winner Runaway Ghost injured, will not run in the Kentucky Derby

The winning horse of this year’s Sunland Derby will not take part in horse racing’s biggest race.

Saturday morning, Runaway Ghost suffered an injury that will keep him out of the Kentucky Derby.

It happened during a workout at Sunland Park Racetrack & Casino.

Runaway Ghost’s trainer, Todd Fincher, says after the workout the horse became sore.

Fincher says it was most likely a hairline fracture and that the good news is that it won’t require surgery.

This would have been Fincher’s first horse to ever race in the Kentucky Derby.

Runaway Ghost qualified for the race after winning the Sunland Derby on March 25th.

The win earned him 50 qualifying points for the Kentucky Derby.

Runaway Ghost was scheduled to leave for Louisville, Kentucky on Tuesday, but now he’ll remain at Sunland Park to recover and heal.

Runaway Ghost’s injury means his spot in the Kentucky Derby will go to another thoroughbred.