Breeders' Cup: Brown scratches Gaudreau from Juvenile, Zulu Kingdom from Mile
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LEXINGTON, Ky. - Chad Brown will scratch Gaudreau from Friday’s $2 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile and Zulu Kingdom from Saturday’s $2 million Mile, the trainer said Wednesday morning.
Brown said Gaudreau, runner-up in the Grade 1 Champagne, had a 102.5 temperature and had to be treated.
“Bad timing, very disappointed, horse was doing great, but he is sick, so I’m going to have to treat him and get him over this,” Brown said. “We’re going to regroup and see now what to do with him.”
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Gaudreau’s scratch leaves the Juvenile with a seven-horse field. Last year, the race ran with just six horses.
Meanwhile, Brown said Zulu Kingdom would scratch from the Mile because the horse wasn’t moving the way he would like on the track. Brown said he scratched the horse but did so in consultation with the Breeders’ Cup veterinarians.
“I took this horse out. We weren’t entirely happy with how the horse was jogging up the last couple of days,” Brown said. “He’s been on the track, training just fine, but I don’t disagree [scratching him.]. Err on the side of caution. He’s been a really solid horse for us, we don’t want any horse out there not examining up 100 percent. I’m in agreement there; there’s no issue from me.”
Brown said Zulu Kingdom is scheduled to remain in training in 2027. Zulu Kingdom, a 4-year-old Irish-bred son of Ten Sovereigns, has won 8 of 13 starts, including two Grade 1 stakes, and earned $1.47 million.
The scratch of Zulu Kingdom would have allowed the mare Vina Arana to get into the Mile field. However, trainer Jack Sisterson said the wide draw going one mile is not appealing, so she won't run in the Mile. However, she is also entered as an also-eligible in the Filly and Mare Turf. Sisterson said Vina Arana would run there if a scratch created an opening. If not, Sisterson said Vina Arana would point to the Matriarch at Del Mar.
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