Mark Valeski out with bone chip

Peter Pan Stakes winner Mark Valeski will be sidelined the remainder of the year after undergoing surgery for a small chip in his left knee.

A homebred racing for Brereton Jones, owner of Airdire Stud, Mark Valeski has won three of six starts, with earnings of $430,952. He was on the Triple Crown trail after finishing second in the Risen Star Stakes and Louisiana Derby, but his owner and trainer Larry Jones decided to pass on the Kentucky Derby. The colt won the Peter Pan a week after the Derby was run.

Airdrie Stud's Bret Jones said the small chip was detected last week after trainer Jones detected the 3-year-old son of Airdrie stallion Proud Citizen did not appear to be himself while galloping.

"It [the chip] is in a spot where it will come out clean and he will be out for three to four months," Bret Jones said. "We hope to have a really good 4-year-old next year."

At the time he was sidelined, Mark Valeski was being aimed at the June 30 Dwyer Stakes at Belmont Park as a prep for either Saratoga's Jim Dandy Stakes on July 28 or the following day's $1 million Haskell Invitational Handicap at Monmouth Park.

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