Aqueduct: Sore foot knocks Calibrachoa out of Carter

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Calibrachoa, the dominant sprinter in New York this winter, was scratched from Saturday’s Grade 1, $250,000 Carter Handicap due to a foot issue, his connections said Saturday morning.

“He’s had some soreness in his feet since his last workout,” said Jonathan Thomas, Todd Pletcher’s assistant trainer. “He’s not lame, but it’s probably something that would prevent him from bringing his ‘A’ game. It might be something where if we had an additional week that it would have been fine.”

Calibrachoa, claimed for $40,000 by owner Mike Repole and Pletcher last November, reeled off three straight stakes wins, including the Grade 3 Toboggan and Grade 3 Tom Fool, both over the inner track. Repole and Pletcher also scratched Have You Ever, who was entered as a pace-setter for Calibrachoa.

Also scratched from the Carter were Be Bullish and Independence War.

In other stakes races, Full of Scoundrels was scratched from the Wood Memorial and Dr Disco was scratched from the Bay Shore.