Trainer Kathy Walsh said Grade 1 winner Georgie Boy, one of the leading Southern California-based three-year-olds, will miss the Santa Anita Derby (G1) on Saturday and possibly the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1) with a pulled muscle in his back.

“It’s high on his back end and we don’t know how long it will take [to heal], but we’re not going to take a chance,” Walsh said late Monday afternoon. “He was a little tight in his back end yesterday, and we had him tested and X-rayed and everything was fine in that regard.

“The vet examined him today and was very happy with what he saw, other than the pulled muscle. He will not require surgery.”

The Tribal Rule gelding, owned by George Schwary, won the Del Mar Futurity (G1) as a two-year-old and is unbeaten in two starts this season. Georgie Boy posted a convincing 3 1/4-length win in the San Vicente Stakes (G2) on February 10 at Santa Anita Park and followed with a victory in the San Felipe Stakes (G2) on March 15.

“I don’t know how long he’ll be out, but Mr. Schwary is very patient, and we’ll give the horse all the time he needs and let him tell us when to come back,” Walsh said. “Obviously, the Santa Anita Derby is out, and I wouldn’t want to run him in the Kentucky Derby without a prep race. Maybe we’ll see him in the Pacific Classic [Stakes (G1) at Del Mar in August].”