Sir Winston, the Belmont Stakes winner, will join Country House, the Kentucky Derby winner, on the sidelines at least through the major races in the 3-year-old division this summer.

Trainer Mark Casse said Sir Winston is dealing with an injury to his left front ankle and will be out of training for a little while. Shortly after the Belmont Stakes, Casse brought Sir Winston to his farm in Ocala, Fla., where he is simply walking.

“I’m not going to rush him,” Casse said Wednesday. “It will keep us out of the Travers for sure. My plan is to have him ready for the fall with the Pegasus in mind.”

Casse was referring to the Pegasus Stakes run at Gulfstream Park in late January 2020. In 2019, the purse of that race was $9 million.

Last weekend, trainer Bill Mott said Country House would be out of training for 60 days and he does not plan to run him again this year.

Casse said Preakness winner War of Will is at Keeneland and will spend the summer at Saratoga. Casse said he could run in the Jim Dandy on July 27 or simply train up to the Travers on Aug. 24. Casse said he does not plan to run War of Will in the Haskell on July 20 at Monmouth Park.

More later on drf.com