by Steve Bailey

Vinery Stables’ and Fox Hill Farm’s Friesan Fire, the favorite for this year’s Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum Brands (G1), has two minor leg injuries and will be sidelined for about two months.

The three-year-old A.P. Indy colt, trained by Larry Jones, has a stress fracture in his left front leg and a secondary nondisplaced chip fracture in his right front fetlock, which will require surgery on Friday.

“When Friesan Fire grabbed a quarter [which occurs when a horse strikes a front foot with a hind foot] in the Kentucky Derby, we felt like he had an excuse for that race,” Vinery General Manager Tom Ludt said. “Going into the [BlackBerry] Preakness [Stakes (G1)], he seemed like his old self and was training beautifully. When he turned in an uncharacteristic race that day, we became concerned.”

Ludt said Friesan Fire was examined by Larry Bramlage, D.V.M., of Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital following the Preakness. The colt will be rehabilitated at Vinery’s Kentucky training center.

Friesan Fire opened the season with consecutive victories Lecomte (G3) and Risen Star (G3) Stakes and the Louisiana Derby (G2), all at Fair Grounds. Overall, he has won four of nine starts and earned $603,265 over two seasons.

Steve Bailey is deputy news editor of THOROUGHBRED TIMES