Country House won't run in the Preakness

After being declared the winner of the Kentucky Derby by disqualification, Country House will not run in the Preakness because of illness, ending any chance of a Triple Crown this year.

Trainer Bill Mott said Tuesday the long-shot winner of horse racing's biggest event was no longer being considered to run in the second jewel of the Triple Crown after it looked like Country House was getting sick. After the horse started coughing, which Mott called unusual, blood work showed he was harboring a virus.

"Hopefully just rest and a little time is going to be what the doctor ordered," Mott said. "Other than that, he doesn't actually act sick. He's kind of a big, tough horse, but there's signs that things are not going in the right direction with him."

Country House was elevated to the winner's circle at the Kentucky Derby in sloppy conditions Saturday after Maximum Security was disqualified for impeding other horses. His absence at the Preakness means there won't be a third Triple Crown winner in five years. Bob Baffert-trained Justify and American Pharoah have each won it since 2015.

Country Horse is the first Kentucky Derby winner not to enter the Preakness since Grindstone in 1996. Grindstone, who was found to have bone chips in one of his knees, was the first Derby winner to be retired immediately after that race since Bubbling Over in 1926.

Because of how the Kentucky Derby went, Mott said he and those around the horse were not as disappointed by this as they would've been under normal circumstances.

"I guess it's been an unusual ride anyway," Mott said of his first Derby victory. "I don't think it hit any of us as hard as what it might have. I think we're grateful to have the win we had and hopefully he bounces back for some races later on."

With trainer Mark Casse's War of Will and other contenders expected to enter the Preakness, Country House likely would not have been favored to win.

Auto racing: Denny Hamlin suffered from nausea and double vision from carbon monoxide that seeped into his Toyota at the end of the NASCAR race at Dover. Hamlin felt ill after Monday's race and was attended to by medical staff on pit road after he finished 21st. Debris struck Hamlin's No. 11 Toyota that knocked out the right rear crush panel and allowed fumes into the car.

NHL: The Edmonton Oilers hired longtime Red Wings executive Ken Holland as their new general manager and president of hockey operations.

Golf: John Daly has been approved to use a cart next week in the PGA Championship because of an injured right knee.

Tennis: Roger Federer cruised to a 6-2, 6-3 win over Richard Gasquet at the Madrid Open to win his first match on clay since 2016.