Puzzlement out of Belmont Stakes

NEW YORK (AP) -- Puzzlement, second in the Peter Pan Stakes two weeks ago, was withdrawn from Saturday's Belmont Stakes with a bruised right front foot.

Trainer Allen Jerkens said Thursday the colt "was lame this morning when we were preparing to go to the track with him."

Puzzlement, a stretch-running son of Pine Bluff, was a 30-1 shot. His departure leaves a field of 11 3-year-olds as Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner War Emblem bids to become the first Triple Crown winner in 24 years.

Jerkens, a Hall of Fame trainer still looking for his first Belmont win, said he was unaware of how the injury occurred. The colt worked 1 1-8 miles on Monday but showed no signs of a problem until Thursday.