LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — The early favourite for the Kentucky Derby has been scratched hours earlier than the race.
Uniqueness used to be declared out of the 149th Derby on Saturday, in keeping with Churchill Downs spokesman Darren Rogers. No quick reason why used to be introduced.
It used to be the 5th scratch this week from the race.
The colt had stumbled at the monitor all the way through a exercise Thursday, even supposing instructor Todd Pletcher had downplayed it.
5 horses have died at Churchill Downs in fresh days, together with two educated by way of Saffie Joseph Jr. He used to be suspended by way of the monitor and had his Derby horse, Lord Miles, scratched.
Kentucky Horse Racing Fee veterinarians have been at Pletcher’s barn early Saturday to look at and read about Uniqueness, who galloped at the monitor after which jogged outdoor the barn. Co-owner Mike Repole used to be readily available, too.
Uniqueness had a five-race profitable streak and used to be the early 3-1 favourite. That leaves 18 horses to run within the 1 1/4-mile Derby.
It used to be some other pre-Derby sadness for Repole.
He owned Uncle Mo, the early favourite for the 2011 Derby who used to be scratched the day earlier than the race. The colt had a gastrointestinal an infection and used to be sooner or later recognized with a unprecedented liver illness. He resumed racing earlier than retiring in November of that yr.
Different horses that have been scratched this week have been Sensible Transfer and Skinner, each as a result of fever, and Continuar.
Pletcher, a two-time Derby winner, will nonetheless saddle Tapit Trice and Kingsbarns.