The Spa Spot: Nine entered in Hopeful
A field of nine, including three from trainer Todd Pletcher, were entered in Monday's meet-ending Hopeful Stakes.
However, two horses expected to compete - Palace Malice and Carried Interest - will not make the race, due to injuries.
Pletcher entered two horses owned by Starlight Racing: Lawn Man and Shanghai Bobby. The third Pletcher horse is Overanalyze. Lawn Man and Overanalyze are also entered in the Grade 3 Sapling Sunday at Monmouth Park.
The Hopeful field from the rail out: Show Some Magic, Bern Identity, Lawn Man, Fortify, Majestic Hussar, Royal Art, Overanalyze, Vegas No Show, Shanghai Bobby.
Palace Malice, a son of 2007 Horse of the Year Curlin, will not run in the Hopeful because of a bucked shin.
Palace Malice breezed four furlongs in 48.90 seconds on Monday, after which the bucked shin – an inflammation around bones in the front legs – was discovered. The minor injury is common in young race horses.
Trainer Rick Violette had hoped to run Carried Interest in the Hopeful, but the colt's sore shin didn't clear up quickly enough and he will wait a month and run in the Futurity instead.