Churchill Downs

Ava's Grace to scratch from Kentucky Oaks

David Grening|Apr 28, 2021

Ava's Grace trains at Churchill Downs on April 23

Barbara D. Livingston Ava's Grace, training last week at Churchill Downs, is thought to have an injury to her right shoulder.

Ava’s Grace, a longshot who figured to be part of the pace, will have to scratch from Friday’s $1.25 million Kentucky Oaks due to an unspecified injury, trainer Robertino Diodoro said Wednesday.

Diodoro said that while he didn’t know exactly what was wrong with Ava’s Grace, the area of concern is her right shoulder. Diodoro said Ava’s Grace was to undergo a nuclear scan to diagnose the issue.

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“I’m glad it happened now, not the morning of the race or in the race,” Diodoro said. “I feel bad for the owners.”

Ava’s Grace is owned by Richard Moody’s Cypress Creek Equine. She has one win from four starts and is coming off a second-place finish after setting the pace in the Grade 3 Fantasy Stakes.

The scratch reduces the field for the Oaks to 13.

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