Hollywood Park: Eblouissante scratched from second start

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Eblouissante, the 3-year-old half-sister to 2010 Horse of the Year Zenyatta, was scratched from an optional claimer at Betfair Hollywood Park on Saturday after suffering an injury to her hip when she struck a stall door in the backstretch receiving barn.

The incident occurred about 30 minutes before Saturday’s fourth race, and her injury was considered minor by trainer John Shirreffs.

“She took some hide off,” he said. “It’s like a burn mark.”

Shirreffs said the decision to withdraw Eblouissante was made after “she took a couple of bad steps” following the incident.

Horses are kept in the receiving barn for approximately 15 minutes before being walked to the paddock.

Tim Grande, the official veterinarian who oversees the receiving barn, telephoned the stewards at 1:30 p.m., 32 minutes to post, to advise them to withdraw Eblouissante.

“It’s unfortunate,” Shirreffs said. “Mr. Kronfeld flew out from New York.”

Eblouissante is owned by breeder Eric Kronfeld. The filly won her debut in a maiden race over 1 1/16 miles on Nov. 16, leading to heightened interest in Saturday’s race, her first start against winners.

Saturday’s race would have been five years to the day since Zenyatta made the second start of her career at Hollywood Park. Zenyatta won her first 19 races before finishing second to Blame in the Breeders’ Cup Classic in her final start in the fall of 2010.