The most exciting two minutes in sports are just around the corner, and as always, the field is full of talented horses, jockeys, and trainers. However, the past 24 hours have seen some unexpected developments with a few of the horses being scratched from the race. With 4 scratches, the Kentucky Derby is down to 19 horses.
First, we have the news that Continuar, trained by Yoshito Yahagi, will be scratched from the race on Saturday. The announcement came on Thursday evening from Churchill Downs, where it was revealed that the horse was not in the best physical condition. Trainer Yoshito Yahagi noted that he felt Continuar had not been able to perform to the best of his abilities and that he did not want to risk the horse’s health by allowing him to run. It is always difficult for a horse to be scratched so close to a race, and it is a blow to the team that had worked hard to prepare him for this event.
Practical Move, who was set to run on Saturday, was also scratched from the race on Thursday. The three-year-old colt had been trained by Tim Yakteen, and the decision to scratch him came after some concerns about his condition. It is always a difficult decision to make, but the health and well-being of the horse always come first.
Next, Lord Miles, who was trained by Saffie Joseph Jr., was also scratched from the race on Thursday, following the suspension of Saffie Joseph Jr. after two of his horses collapsed and died in the lead-up to the race. This is a devastating blow for Lord Miles and his team, who had been preparing for months to compete in this prestigious event.
Additionally, Skinner, who was set to run in the race on Saturday, was scratched due to an elevated temperature. It is always better to err on the side of caution when it comes to the health and safety of these beautiful animals.
As always, the Kentucky Derby is full of surprises, and these scratches only add to the excitement of the event. The remaining horses in the field are still incredibly talented, and I can’t wait to see them compete on Saturday. Stay tuned for more updates on this year’s Kentucky Derby!
