American Theorem will skip Breeders' Cup Juvenile

ARCADIA, Calif. -- American Theorem will not run in the $2 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile next Friday, trainer George Papaprodromou said Saturday morning at Santa Anita, explaining that he did not feel the colt was ready for that test. The news was first reported by Joaquin Jaime on TVG.

"I don't feel my horse is 100 percent," Papaprodromou told Daily Racing Form Saturday morning. "I don't want to run against the best in the world if he's not. I want to do the right thing, not push him."

American Theorem was second to Eight Rings in the FrontRunner Stakes last month in his second start, after having won a maiden race at Del Mar.

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Papaprodromou said he was not sure if American Theorem would race again this year. He said his main focus now was "getting him ready for the Kentucky Derby" next spring.

"We wanted to run in the Breeders' Cup," he said. "Now we'll just have to come up with a different plan. There's no point in throwing him in just because it's the Breeders' Cup."

American Theorem's last work was Oct. 18, during which he lugged in a bit through the lane.

"It's a bummer, but we're doing what's in the best interest of the horse," Papaprodromou said.