Dressed in Hermes out of Santa Anita Derby

ARCADIA, Calif. – Dressed in Hermes will head straight to the Grade 2, $300,000 American Turf at Churchill Downs on Kentucky Derby Day, May 7, after being scratched on Friday morning from the Santa Anita Derby on Saturday, trainer Janet Armstrong said.

Armstrong said that Dressed in Hermes got loose in the stable area at San Luis Rey Downs, where Armstrong is based, on Friday morning, prompting Armstrong to scratch him from the Santa Anita Derby.

“He got loose and ran around a bit. He scraped up a knee,” said Armstrong, who said the scrape didn’t initially appear to be much, but enough to be cautious and pass the Derby.

She said that, assuming the scrape was minor and nothing else was amiss, the plan was still to head to Churchill Downs and remain on turf. Dressed in Hermes is a three-time stakes winner on turf, including the Pasadena Stakes last time out here March 13.

Dressed in Hermes was fourth behind Mor Spirit and Uncle Lino in the Robert Lewis Stakes on Feb. 6 in his last start on dirt.