Performer scratched from Carter with minor ankle injury

ELMONT, N.Y. - Trainer Shug McGaughey had to wait two months longer than he planned to bring his talented colt Performer back to the races. Now, he’ll have to wait some more.

Performer, the 3-1 morning-line favorite for Saturday’s Grade 1, $250,000 Carter Handicap at Belmont Park, was forced to scratch from that race due to an ankle injury, McGaughey said Saturday morning.

The Carter was originally scheduled for April 4 at Aqueduct, but that race was postponed after the Aqueduct spring meet was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

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McGaughey said that Performer’s ankle flared up following a morning gallop at Belmont on Friday. X-rays were negative and though Performer was better Saturday morning, he was not good enough to run.

“He must have just wrenched it galloping,” McGaughey said. “It’s just a little hiccup. I was relieved when the X-rays came back clean and this morning he was better. I’ll watch him for the next few days and we’ll come up with a different plan.”

Performer, a 4-year-old son of Speightstown owned by the Phipps Stable and Claiborne Farm, lost in November 2018, then went 4 for 4 in 2019 capped by a win in the Grade 3 Discovery at Aqueduct last Nov. 30.

Also scratched from the Carter is 50-1 shot Midnightcharly.

The field is now reduced to nine with Firenze Fire, Vekoma, and Mind Control likely to vie for favoritism.