Breeders' Cup Mile: Scratch of Diego Velazquez leaves field of 10

DEL MAR, Calif. – Trainer Aidan O’Brien on Friday afternoon scratched Diego Velazquez from Saturday’s Breeders’ Cup Mile, the second overseas entrant taken out of the race late this week.

The French filly Ramatuelle was scratched early Friday after a PET scan revealed an incidence of “bone remodeling.” No specific reason was provided for Diego Velazquez’ scratch, O’Brien merely saying the colt’s training session Friday morning had displeased him.

O’Brien’s statement appeared to make the point that he decided to scratch the horse, rather than state and Breeders’ Cup veterinarians insisting the horse be scratched. A year ago, O’Brien disputed veterinarians’ decision that the 2-year-old River Tiber wasn’t fit to start in the Juvenile Turf.

With the two scratches the Mile now has as field of 10, with Godolphin’s Notable Speech the likely favorite.

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