Caramel Swirl will miss Breeders' Cup Filly Mare Sprint
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ARCADIA, Calif. – Caramel Swirl did not ship to Santa Anita with the rest of trainer Bill Mott’s Breeders’ Cup contingent and was withdrawn from consideration from the Filly and Mare Sprint.
Mott said Thursday that Caramel Swirl had tied up, the equivalency of muscle cramps, earlier in the week and was then dull in her training thereafter. This, after Caramel Swirl had turned in two sharp workouts in consecutive weeks at Saratoga.
“She was very dull, kind of hanging her head on Monday, we were concerned about her,” Mott said Thursday at Santa Anita. “She seems to be doing much better today. Something was going on with her, she just didn’t feel good. Very unusual that she would tie up, she’s never been one to tie up.
“I’m disappointed,” Mott added. “If you’re not at the top of your game on Nov. 4, probably no sense going over to the paddock.”
Caramel Swirl, owned and bred by Godolphin Racing, crossed the finish line third in the Grade 2 Gallant Bloom Stakes on Oct. 1 but was elevated to first when the stewards deemed both Sterling Silver, who crossed the wire first, and Headland, who came in second, interfered with Caramel Swirl.
Mott said he is unsure whether Caramel Swirl will get a chance to race again before she is likely bred next winter or spring.
Mott’s other six Breeders’ Cup pre-entrants, Cody’s Wish, Elite Power, War Like Goddess, Casa Creed, Gala Brand, and Just F Y I all arrived at Santa Anita on Wednesday.
Caramel Swirl was one of three horses withdrawn from consideration from Breeders’ Cup races on Thursday. Crown Imperial, who was two deep on the preference list for the Juvenile Turf Sprint, and Raptor’s, a Brazilian-bred colt who in the summer was bought by a group that included Gary Barber and Adam Wachtel and transferred to Mark Casse, will not run in the $4 million Turf.
Those three join five horses who were withdrawn from consideration on Wednesday – Bella de Arteaga (Distaff), Toca Madera (Juvenile Fillies Turf Sprint), Sauterne (Mile), Piz Badille (Turf), and Anarchist (Sprint) – shortly after pre-entries were announced.
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