Frac Daddy scratched from Pacific Classic

Frac Daddy, the winner of two stakes on synthetic tracks at Keeneland and Woodbine earlier this year, was withdrawn from Sunday’s $1 million Pacific Classic on Saturday after getting a leg over the webbing of his stall, track officials and trainer Ken McPeek said.

McPeek said that Frac Daddy’s injury was being evaluated on Saturday. He said Frac Daddy would be sent to Kentucky soon for treatment and continued evaluation by prominent veterinarian Dr. Larry Bramlage.

McPeek said there is a possibility that Frac Daddy will be retired to stud if he cannot return to competition in top-class races.

“We’ll do the right thing and give him every opportunity to make it back,” McPeek said.

Frac Daddy has been in trainer Blake Heap’s stable at Del Mar this summer. Heap said the incident occurred on Friday.

Owned by Magic City Thoroughbred Partners, Frac Daddy was a 15-1 shot on the morning line for the Pacific Classic, run over 1 1/4 miles on the Polytrack synthetic surface. A 4-year-old colt by Scat Daddy, Frac Daddy has won 5 of 18 starts and earned $686,036.

Earlier this year, Frac Daddy won the Grade 3 Ben Ali Stakes at Keeneland and the Grade 2 Eclipse Stakes at Woodbine.

His absence leaves the Pacific Classic with a field of 10 led by Shared Belief, the unbeaten champion 2-year-old male of 2013; Majestic Harbor, the winner of the Gold Cup at Santa Anita on June 28; and Game On Dude, who won the 2013 Pacific Classic.

The Pacific Classic is the 10th race on an 11-race program on Sunday which begins at 1 p.m. Pacific.