I Want Revenge out of Kentucky Derby

LOUISVILLE, Kentucky (Reuters) - Leading Kentucky Derby contender I Want Revenge has been scratched from Saturday's race with a minor ankle injury, his trainer said.

A routine check Saturday morning uncovered "a little pressure and a touch of heat" to the dark bay colt's left front ankle, trainer Jeff Mullins told reporters.

"Knowing the weather and how well they seal the racetrack and the possibility of how hard the track may be today if the rain keeps coming, we thought it was in the best interest of the horse not to run," said Mullins.

I Want Revenge, the Derby's early favorite at 3-1, will also likely miss the Preakness Stakes on May 16.

"It x-rayed perfectly normal," said veterinarian Foster Northrop. "On the ultrasound, everything appeared normal so at this point we don't have a diagnosis.

"This is a minor issue right now. We can't go forward at this point until we're comfortable we know what is going on."

I Want Revenge has won three of eight career races and never finished out of the money.

"I'm at a loss for words," said the colt's 19-year-old jockey Joe Talamo. "I'm just glad the horse is OK. It could have been a lot worse.

"Something could have happened on the track. I'm glad it happened in the stall."

Kentucky Derby-bred I Want Revenge would have been Mullins' fifth Derby horse.

"I've been in this business most of my life and most of the things I've learned were by hard knocks," said the 46-year-old trainer. "Your biggest dream is to get here. Your biggest nightmare is to get to race day and have to scratch."

(Editing by Justin Palmer; To query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)