2021 Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint: Estilo Talentoso scratched, field down to five
DEL MAR, Calif. - Estilo Talentoso is out of Saturday’s $1 million Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint at Del Mar due to an issue with her right fore, according to trainer Juan Arriagada, reducing the field for the $1 million race to five.
“She’s a little off in her right front,” Arriagada said. “It’s nothing serious but the state [veterinarian] is very strict here and they would prefer to take her out of the race.”
Estilo Talentoso would have been the first Breeders’ Cup starter for Arriagada, who is based at Delaware Park and shipped the horse cross-country on Sunday.
“It’s not easy to come from so far away and get scratched,” Arriagada said. “It is what it is.”
Estilo Talentoso, a 4-year-old daughter of Maclean’s Music, races for a partnership that includes Medallion Racing, Parkland Thoroughbreds, Barry Fowler, Little Red Feather Racing and Black Ridge Stables. Earlier this year, she won the Grade 3 Bed O’ Roses at Belmont. Most recently, she finished third, beaten a neck by Bell’s the One, in the Thoroughbred Club of America at Keeneland.
Medallion, Parkland and Fowler will still be represented in the race as part-owners of Bella Sofia, the second choice on the morning line.
The Filly and Mare Sprint is topped by last year’s winner, Gamine, who was made the 3-5 morning-line favorite, and Bella Sofia, who won the Grade 1 Test at Saratoga in August.
Ce Ce, Edgeway and Proud Emma are the others remaining in the field.
Philip Shelton, of Medallion Racing, said Estilo Talentoso is cataloged to be sold at the Fasig-Tipton auction on Nov. 9.
“She’ll go through the sale and if she brings a price that everybody agrees is acceptable we’ll sell her," he said. "If not we’ll see what our options are moving forward."
Shelton said as disappointed as he is not to be able to run Estilo Talentoso, he said he feels worse for Arriagada.
“I’m the most disappointed for Juan," Shelton said. "He put his heart and soul into this filly. He’d never been to California before, and to have it happen you feel sick for him."
- additional reporting by Jay Privman