International Star scratched from Kentucky Derby

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – International Star has been scratched from the 141st Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs, it was announced shortly after 9:30 a.m. Eastern on Saturday. His defection leaves a field of 18.

Chief steward Barbara Borden said the scratch for International Star was submitted by trainer Mike Maker and the colt was not scratched by a state veterinarian. Maker said the colt began showing soreness in his left front foot about 9 a.m. and that withdrawing the colt was the prudent move. Maker said the injury is not serious and “we’ll live to fight another day.”

“It’s devastating and heart-breaking,” said Ken Ramsey, who owns the colt with his wife, Sarah. “I really thought I had a shot in this race. I probably won’t even go over to the races today.”

Ramsey said International Star was “off when jogging this morning.” The left front shoe, a glue-on, was pulled, and the colt was found with “heat in the inside quarter of his left front.”

International Star won three straight stakes at Fair Grounds this winter, ending with the Louisiana Derby, and was regarded as a fringe contender in a deep renewal of the Derby. The colt was 24-1at the time of the scratch. Maker said the foot problem only developed Saturday morning and had nothing to do with the colt not going to the track to train Thursday.

International Star joins three others from the 22 horses entered in the Derby that will not run, the others being Stanford, El Kabeir, and Tale of Verve.

With the scratch, and with 18 to run, both the inside post and far outside post will be left open in the starting gate. This is the first time since 2004 that as few as 18 will start in the Derby.

Meanwhile, Ramsey also scratched his three scheduled starters – Scrumpdilicious, Coalport, and the star mare Stephanie’s Kitten – from the Woodford Reserve Turf Classic, the Grade 1 race that directly precedes the Derby. He also scratched Granny’s Kitten from the American Turf earlier on the card. Ramsey still had three starters remaining on the card, including Luck of the Kitten and Thank You Marylou in undercard stakes.

Ramsey said he and trainer Chad Brown, who also has Slumber in the Woodford, had gotten into a disagreement about the particulars of the race and would not comment further. Brown was not immediately available.

– additional reporting by Byron King and David Grening