Homerique injures ankle, out until next year

SARATOGA SPECIAL, N.Y. – Homerique, a multiple graded-stakes-winning filly in the U.S. in 2019, will not race again this year, trainer Chad Brown said Wednesday.

“Unfortunately, she had a setback, a minor ankle injury, and we’ve stopped on her for the season and plan on running her as a 5-year-old next year,” Brown said.

Homerique, a 4-year-old daughter of Exchange Rate owned by Peter Brant, had been under consideration for the Beverly D. before the setback.

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Homerique won the Grade 3 Beaugay and Grade 2 New York stakes, both at Belmont Park this summer, before finishing third in the Grade 1 Diana to stablemate and defending female turf champion Sistercharlie, who is entered in Saturday’s Beverly D.

Cairo Cat makes second try at 3-year-old debut

Cairo Cat, who was scratched in the paddock from the $100,000 Curlin Stakes on July 26, is entered to make his seasonal debut in a second-level allowance Friday at Saratoga. The 1 1/8-mile race drew a field of seven, including fellow 3-year-old Spinoff.

Cairo Cat hasn’t run since winning the Grade 3 Iroquois Stakes at Churchill Downs last September. He had a knee injury that needed plenty of time to heal, according to trainer Ken McPeek.

In the paddock prior to the Curlin, Cairo Cat reared up, came down a little awkwardly, and fell and rolled over. “None the worse for wear, but the prudent thing was to take him out,” McPeek said.

McPeek noted that Cairo Cat has to take on seasoned older horses such as Lone Sailor, Control Group, and Backsideofthemoon.

“I’m not thrilled with the spot. Got to run against a bunch of old war horses, but he needs to get a race in and he’s doing really well,” McPeek said.

Spinoff, who finished 18th in the Kentucky Derby and sixth Belmont Stakes, is using this allowance to try and get back on track. Spinoff, most recently 11th in the Belmont Derby on turf, will race with blinkers on Friday.

“We worked him in blinkers the other day. I thought it was an exceptionally good breeze so we’ll try that and see if we can get him on course,” trainer Todd Pletcher said.