Kaufy Mate, the popular 3-year-old local colt entered in the $250,000 Tampa Bay Derby, has a cut foot and may not be able to run Sunday.
Trainer Kirk Ziadie, pessimistic Wednesday morning about Kaufy Mate's chance of running, was slightly more upbeat after veterinarian and friend Dr. Philip Aleong visited and said Kaufy had a 75 percent chance of running.
"It's like if you have surgery. If everything goes right, you can get out of the hospital," Ziadie said. "But if you get an infection and fever, you have to stay. When the fever breaks, you'd be on the right track, you come out of the hospital."
The cut is on the heel of the right forefoot. The injury occurred Friday but Kaufy was well enough to be worked out Tuesday. Ziadie said the workout did not worsen the injury, and added that his concern for the horse's well-being overrode all other factors.
"Ninety-five percent of the trainers out there would run this horse, even if it ruined him, but I'm not like that," Ziadie said.
Said Aleong: "We have to take it day by day and see how he does. There's not much you can do, just try to keep it from becoming infected."
Ziadie, Tampa Bay Downs' trainer of the month for February, has no other horses entered in the Derby or in the $150,000 Florida Oaks on the same day. Another of his horses, Keystone Point, is scheduled to run Monday in a $100,000 stakes race in Ocala, but won't be moved back home if Kaufy is scratched; that would mean forfeiting a $9,000 supplement paid to enter Keystone in Ocala.
On Feb. 21, Kaufy set a Sam F. Davis Stakes record and beat Triple Crown contender Cliff's Edge at Tampa Bay Downs.
