Denis of Cork, who was targeted for the $1 million Travers at Saratoga Aug. 23, will miss that race with a season-ending injury.

Trainer David Carroll told the Racing Form that Denis of Cork, third in the Kentucky Derby and second in the Belmont, suffered a minor injury to his left rear ankle.

A former assistant to Hall of Famer Shug McGaughey, Carroll will have a small string at Saratoga for the first time this summer. Denis of Cork will not be among them, staying behind at Churchill Downs, where he will be hand-walked for the next 30 days and then checked again.

No surgery will be needed for what has been reported as the start of a hairline fracture.

“It’s disappointing, but he’ll come back 110 percent and have time to mature,” Carroll told the Form. “Hopefully we’ll come back with a great horse next year.”

The Travers is already likely to be without Derby and Preakness winner Big Brown, who is scheduled to run next in the Haskell Aug. 3 at Monmouth Park. Where he goes from there, or if he even runs again, is anyone's guess. The trainer wants the Travers; the owners don't. Owners rarely lose that battle.