Day off? Maybe months off; Endorsement out of Derby with broken ankle

So maybe that text notice I ranted about on Sunday -- the one about Kentucky Derby-bound Endorsement getting a day off just to walk instead of gallop, something I considered not necessarily the news -- might have been onto something.

This morning Thoroughbred Times reports that the Distorted Humor colt, winner of the newly G3 Sunland Derby, is out of the Kentucky Derby with a broken ankle.

Claire Novak had noted on her Facebook page that the colt was supposed to work this morning. Instead, Novak reports today, he is "out ... with a non-displaced lateral (condylar) fracture to the right front."

Maybe there were signs of trouble on Sunday, and that's why trainer Shannon Ritter, "likes to give (a horse) a day off once in awhile."

Once in awhile when he's hurting?

T-Times on a tear with texts today

I signed up recently for the racing-news text-notification offered by Thoroughbred Times.

It seems like a pretty good service. I learned Saturday that Hurricane Ike upset the field in the Derby Trial soon after the race, even though I was unable to be anywhere that I could watch it. And this morning, the service woke me up with news that Eskendereya would be out of the Kentucky Derby. Even as "just" a fan, that second brief, in particular, is something I want to know right away; not later in the day.

Then, at 1:32 p.m., comes this message.

"TTimes Alert: Sunland Derby winner Endorsement gets day off."

Let's see:

1. Sublime Wood Memorial winner off the Derby trail six days out from the race due to injury.

2. Endorsement -- who despite winning the G3 Sunland Derby has only made four starts in his life, winning two (though he's "in" for the Derby at 10th in graded earnings) -- walks the shedrow instead of galloping this morning because, well, his trainer, Shannon Ritter, "likes to give (a horse) a day off every once in awhile."

When it comes to buzzing my phone with text notices about horse racing news, I have a little ditty to share with Thoroughbred Times.

I trust it will be received in good humor.

At least the breaking news about Endorsement's casual Sunday isn't the bulletin that woke me.