2021 Breeders' Cup Turf: Domestic Spending, United forced to scratch
DEL MAR, Calif. - Domestic Spending and United on Thursday were both scratched from Saturday’s $4 million Breeders’ Cup Turf by their connections after both geldings had inflammation in a front leg.
Their scratches opened up spots in the starting gate for both Bolshoi Ballet and Channel Maker to make the field.
Domestic Spending, 4-1 on the morning line, had inflammation in his left foreleg, trainer Chad Brown said Thursday morning. Brown deduced that it may have happened while Domestic Spending galloped over Del Mar’s main track. Domestic Spending arrived in California on Sunday and trained three days here.
“He’s sound, but I don’t like it,” Brown said. “He’s never had it before. Going to send him to Kentucky for some more diagnostics. He must have injured himself galloping somehow. He was perfectly sound since he’s been here. He’s never had a problem.”
Domestic Spending is in the conversation for male turf champion with Grade 1 victories in the Turf Classic at Churchill Downs and the Manhattan at Belmont. He was coming off a neck loss to Two Emmys in the Mister D Stakes at Arlington Park on Aug. 14. He was going to be trying 1 1/2 miles for the first time in the Turf.
“Crushed,” said Brown, who trains Domestic Spending for Seth Klarman’s Klaravich Stables. “Horse was doing unbelievably well and he’s a super-talented horse. I just hope he’s going to be okay for the long term, but I’m always going to do what’s right by the horse. He’s sound. I’m not going to take any chances.”
Brown will still be represented in the Turf by Rockemperor and Tribhuvan.
United, trained by Richard Mandella, was listed at 20-1 on the morning line in the Turf. He was coming off a nose victory in the Grade 2 John Henry Turf Championship on Oct. 2.
Mandella, who trains United for L N J Foxwoods, said United had “a little filling over a suspensory over the last few days.”
“We scanned it, and it was clean,” Mandella said. “We gave him a strong gallop this morning and it swelled again.”
Mandella said United, a 6-year-old gelding by Giant’s Causeway, would get a rest.
Should there be any more defections from the race, Mogul and Friar’s Road remain on the also-eligible list.
- additional reporting by Steve Andersen