Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile: Graydar to miss race with quarter crack
ARCADIA, Calif. – Graydar, who likely would have been the favorite in the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile on Friday, was declared out of the race Monday because of a quarter crack in his left front hoof, according to a press release from Twin Creeks Racing Stables, which owns the 4-year-old colt.
The injury is believed to be minor enough to allow Graydar to run in the Grade 1, $500,000 Cigar Mile on Nov. 30 at Aqueduct, trainer Todd Pletcher said in the release.
“We believed Graydar had a huge chance in the Breeders’ Cup,” Pletcher said. “This is a setback, but hopefully he can be 100 percent for the Cigar Mile.”
Graydar, a speedy, gray colt by Unbridled’s Song, has won five of his six career starts, including his last four, a streak that includes scores in the Grade 1 Donn in February, the Grade 2 New Orleans Handicap in March, and the Grade 2 Kelso at Belmont Park in September. He has earned $841,560 for Twin Creeks, a partnership managed by Randy Gullatt in Versailles, Ky.
Graydar had been seriously considered for the $5 million BC Classic before it was announced last week that he was going in the Dirt Mile.
The defection of a likely BC favorite was the second in a span of 48 hours, following the tragic euthanization of Points Offthebench after his breakdown Saturday in a workout at Santa Anita. Points Offthebench likely would have been favored in the Sprint.