Breeders' Cup: Announce's connections say scratch was right call

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - The stewards' decision Friday to scratch Announce from the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf on the advice of the track veterinarian was the correct one, according to Teddy Grimthorpe, racing manager for the filly's owner-breeder, Juddmonte Farms.

The scratch was announced just minutes before post time, as the Filly and Mare Turf starters warmed up on the backstretch, and after the race, French jockey Maxime Guyon – who speaks minimal English – was upset, saying he couldn't understand why his mount had been taken out of the race. But Announce, who would have been the race's third betting choice, required stitches to close a cut on her right hind leg that was opened when the filly acted up, whipped around, and ran into the track ambulance.

Announce and Shotgun Gulch, who was to start in the Filly and Mare Sprint, were scratched during the warm-up periods before BC races Friday. Attention was focused on prerace BC veterinary scratches this year because of the Life At Ten incident in the 2010 Ladies' Classic, when that filly's jockey told a television interviewer that his mount was not warming up in her usual fashion, and Life At Ten wound up being eased in the race.

"The decision was correct," Grimthorpe said of the decision regarding Announce. "I know it's a touchy subject, and I know there was some doubt, but when I saw her injury, I realized the right decision had been made."

Grimthorpe said Announce was "a little bit sore" Saturday morning, but basically fine. The 4-year-old filly, winner of the Group 1 Prix Jean Romanet and second by a nose in the Group 1 Prix de l'Opera in her two most recent starts, will return to race next year at 5, and is likely to resume her career under the care of Bill Mott in the United States

Grimthorpe said he still had to talk to Juddmonte's owner, Khalid Abdullah, but she could easily stay over here," Grimthorpe said.

* Dynaslew, who was taken off the racetrack in a horse ambulance after finishing last in the Filly and Mare Turf, suffered no injuries during the race, trainer Seth Benzel said. Dynaslew will be shipped to owner Live Oak Plantation's farm in Florida, and a decision will soon be made on whether she will race again in 2012 or be retired as a broodmare.