Breeders' Cup: Mystik Dan, Sweet Azteca, Tamara scratched by vets

DEL MAR, Calif. – Mystik Dan, the 2024 Kentucky Derby winner, was scratched out of Saturday’s $1 million Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile and Sweet Azteca and Tamara, the top two morning-line choices in Saturday’s $1 Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint were all scratched out of their respective races by regulatory veterinarians Saturday morning.

Atsila was also scratched by the vets out of the Filly and Mare Turf.

Mystik Dan, coming off a win in the Lukas Classic at Churchill Downs on Sept. 27, was scratched because he “responds to flexion left ankle,” trainer Kenny McPeek said was the reason given to him.

Mystik Dan is due to stand stud at Airdrie Stud in 2026 so it is likely that his racing career is finished.

Mystik Dan was the second horse in two days trained by McPeek that was scratched out of a Breeders’ Cup race. On Friday, Blackout Time was scratched out of the $2 million Juvenile.

ON SALE NOW: DRF Breeders' Cup Packages! Get everything you need to win and save big.

“This industry is analysis paralysis,” McPeek said. “They don’t trust trainers. Honestly, they’re driving owners out. I had one owner who had 35 horses, had several state vet scratches in Kentucky and he said ‘I have an idea. … Sell them all. I’m buying a boat.' ”

Meanwhile, Sweet Azteca, the 2-1 morning-line favorite in Filly and Mare Sprint, was scratched because of concerns over the inside quarter of her right front foot, trainer Richard Baltas said, who didn’t agree with the decision.

“It’s devastating,” said. “It’s devastating for my client [owner/breeder Pamela Ziebarth], she’s a wonderful lady. That being said, sometimes things, I hate to say it, they happen for a reason. I don’t know what the reason is.”

Sweet Azteca, a 5-year-old daughter of Sharp Azteca, is 7 for 9 in her career including a victory in the Grade 1 Beholder Mile. Baltas said a decision on Sweet Azteca’s future would be made by Zierbath.

Tamara, the 7-2 second choice on the line and a 3-year-old daughter of Bolt d’Oro out of the three-time Breeders’ Cup winner Beholder, was scratched due to an issue with her left front.

“She looked acceptable to us, but the Breeders’ Cup vets thought she was a little off and took her out,” trainer Richard Mandella said. “I don’t know what to say. Maybe they’re right and we’ll find something, but she looked acceptable to me.”

Fee Blanche was previously scratched out of the Filly and Mare Sprint was Fee Blanche, so that race is down to a seven-horse field.

Previously scratched out of Saturday’s card was Arizona Blaze from the $1 million Turf Sprint, Scottish Lassie from the $2 million Distaff and, of course, Sovereignty from the $7 million Breeders’ Cup Classic.

:: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.