SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. -- Preakness winner Red Bullet will not race again this year after a shadow on an X-ray of the colt's left front cannon bone - which could indicate the beginnings of a fracture - was detected.

	Red Bullet came out of the Dwyer with a viral infection and ulcers.

Red Bullet was shipped to owner Frank Stronach's Adena Springs Farm in Ocala, Fla., on Tuesday, where he will spend the rest of the year before being prepared for a 4-year-old campaign that could begin in the Donn Handicap at Gulfstream Park in February.

"He just hasn't been quite right since his last race, something happened in that race," said Frank Stronach's farm manager, Danny Vella, referring to the July 9 Dwyer Stakes, where Red Bullet finished third.

Red Bullet, who is trained by Joe Orseno, did come out of the Dwyer with a viral infection and was also diagnosed with ulcers. The shadow was not found until last week when a scintigraphy - a procedure where dye is injected into a bone - was performed and revealed the line in the condial of the cannon bone.

"The bottom line is, we're finding these things just before they happen," Vella said. "We talked to the vets and they said if you push on this you could hurt him. This horse is too valuable."

Vella said Red Bullet would be hand-walked for the next 30 days and then start swimming in a pool for 30 days before returning to light training in late October or early November.

"I walked him around this morning and he was tearing the barn down," Vella said.

The decision to stop on Red Bullet probably removes him from contention for divisional honors. While he did beat Kentucky Derby winner Fusaichi Pegasus in the Preakness, Red Bullet lost to Fusaichi Pegasus in the Wood Memorial. Moreover, Red Bullet did not participate in key 3-year-old races such as the Kentucky Derby, Belmont, Haskell, and Travers. Red Bullet's other stakes win this year came in the Grade 3 Gotham at Aqueduct.

"We're looking to have 4-year-olds as well as 3-year-olds," Vella said.

"The good ones make you wait. With a horse like him, it's worthwhile."