'Deelites' ailing career in jeopardy

INGLEWOOD, Calif. -- A tendon injury discovered in the left front leg of Afternoon Deelites has put the colt's racing future in doubt, trainer Richard Mandella said.

Unbeaten in his first five starts before being beaten a head by Larry The Legend in the Santa Anita Derby, Afternoon Deelites suffered the injury while finishing eighth in the Kentucky Derby on May 6. He also came out of the race with a throat infection.

Mandella informed owner Burt Bacharach, who is in Europe, of the problem via telephone yesterday.

"He appeared fine after the [Derby]," Mandella said. "But then we noticed a slight filling in his tendon. It's slight, but it is a very significant problem. . . . The horse won't race for quite a while if he ever races again."