The reports out of the UK this morning that Gronkowski has had a minor setback that may prevent him from running in the Kentucky Derby resulted in some serious scoreboard watching from Ocala, Fla., where trainer Steve Asmussen is at the 2-year-old in training sale.

Asmussen trains Combatant, currently 21st on the points list. If Gronkowski drops out, Combatant would get into the 20-horse field, and Asmussen said if he can get in, he will run.

Combatant most recently was fourth in the Arkansas Derby behind Magnum Moon, who is the co-second choice on the Derby future line set by Mike Watchmaker, Daily Racing Form's national handicapper.

Asmussen said Combatant would have just one pre-Derby work, next Monday, April 30. Asmussen often works his horses nine days after a race, but said he decided to bypass a workout this morning at Churchill Downs since Combatant would be coming back for a race in just 21 days.

"Fitness is not an issue. A half in :52," he said, theorizing what a maintenance workout this morning would have entailed, "isn't going to make the difference in whether or not he wins the Derby."

Ricardo Santana Jr. would have the mount in the Derby, Asmussen said.

If Combatant moves into the 20-horse field, that would put Instilled Regard on the bubble at 21.

Entries for the Derby are to be taken the morning of Tuesday, May 1, with posts drawn later that day.

According to The Racing Post, Gronkowski's trainer, Jeremy Noseda, told the publication: "We've had a minor setback and will know where we are in the next 24 hours."

Gronkowski was scheduled to fly to Kentucky on Friday.