Italian trotter Infinitif most likely will miss Saturday's Allerage at The Red Mile in Lexington. The four-year-old is suffering from a minor ligament injury, trainer Marie Ortolan said, and will be given time off.
"He is too valuable and we don't want to risk it," Ortolan said.
Infinitif won last year's $1 million Italian Derby - part of an undefeated eight-race European campaign - and spent the spring in Kentucky breeding mares.
He won three qualifiers, including a 1:53.1 victory on September 19, before making his U.S. debut with a sixth-place finish (from Post 10) in the Open at the Red Mile on September 27. Exotic Destination won the race in 1:52.1.
"He's a very nice horse. He's a big strong horse," said Dan Shetler Jr., who drove Infinitif in place of regular driver Jean-Pierre Dubois. "He doesn't act like a very good sprinter, or a mile horse.
"All of his races in Europe have been distance races," he added. "Our style of racing is a little bit foreign to him. I don't know how he will adapt to our style of racing. (Dubois) is trying to prep him a little bit for the Prix d'Amerique (in January 2009)."
Shetler was in the sulky because Dubois suffered a broken arm last week when he was kicked by a broodmare. Dubois returned to France to have surgery, but is expected back in Kentucky later this week.
"I've driven quite a few horses for Mr. Dubois the last several years," Shetler said. "He's got some very good horses and is a very good horseman."
(Harness Racing Communications)