Sir Cherokee scratched from Derby

LOUISVILLE, Ky., May 2 (UPI) -- Arkansas Derby winner Sir Cherokee has been scratched from Saturday's Kentucky Derby, reducing the field to 16.

Trainer Michael Tomlinson said the colt has a fracture in his right rear ankle but is expected to resume racing later this year.

"The timing of it is horrendous," he said Friday morning in the Churchill Downs barn area.

Sir Cherokee was to have started in the No. 3 post position. Instead, Brancusi and Supah Blitz each will move out one spot from the rail, leaving the No. 1 post empty.