Knee fracture knocks El Areeb off Kentucky Derby trail

Mar 30, 2017 Jennifer Caldwell/Brisnet.com

Multiple Grade 3 winner El Areeb has been forced to the sidelines after X-rays on Thursday revealed a knee fracture.

Trained by Cal Lynch, the gray colt worked four furlongs in :51.60 on Wednesday at Laurel Park. On Thursday his connections noticed heat in his knee and had it X-rayed.

Surgery is scheduled for Monday for the Exchange Rate colt, who is expected to recover and pick up his career later this season.

“Thank God it’s not career-ending or anything like that and the prognosis is good,” Lynch said. “We’re just grateful that he’s all right and he’s going to be OK. His health and welfare is more important than any one race. He’ll have a career, and a life.”