Central Banker forced to scratch from Met Mile

ELMONT, N.Y. – Central Banker, the fourth choice on the morning line for Saturday’s Grade 1, $1.25 million Metropolitan Handicap at Belmont Park, will be forced to scratch from that race after being administered the legal medication Legend within the prohibited time frame established by the New York State Gaming Commission.

Legend is an injectable medication used to treat joints.

According to the records required by the gaming commission to be turned in by the veterinarians for horses entered to run in all four of Saturday’s $1 million-plus stakes at Belmont, Legend was administered by Dr. Nancy Brennan on Friday morning, the day after Central Banker arrived from Kentucky.

“There was a mistake made by our New York veterinarian. [She] didn’t follow protocols, and Legend was given within 48 hours, and you can’t do that,” trainer Al Stall said. “We respect the integrity of the sport and will scratch and tee it up on the 5th of July. All the connections are devastated.”

Stall said he would point Central Banker to the Grade 3, $500,000 Belmont Sprint Championship here July 5.

Central Banker, owned by Klaravich Stable and William Lawrence, was coming off a narrow victory over Shakin It Up in the Grade 2 Churchill Downs Stakes on Derby Day.