Santa Anita: Caracortado to be scratched from Sensational Star

ARCADIA, Calif. - Caracortado, the winner of the Grade 3 Daytona Stakes on Jan. 8, was expected to be scratched from Saturday’s $100,000 Sensational Star Stakes at Santa Anita because of a minor foot problem, trainer Mike Machowsky said on Friday.

“He burned a little of his frog galloping,” Machowsky said, referring to the underside of the foot. “I don’t know if it happened in the mud or what. It’s still tender. I don’t want to push it. I didn’t take him out today. I wanted to see how it responded to the treatment.”

Machowsky said Caracortado will be pointed for the $300,000 Frank Kilroe Mile on turf on March 3.

“This is isn’t the big picture,” Machowsky said of the Sensational Star. “Hopefully, we’ll look at the Kilroe.”

Caracortado would have been a heavy favorite in the Sensational Star, run over about 6 1/2 furlongs on the hillside turf course.

The soreness occurred in the same right front foot that has given Caracortado trouble in the past. He developed an abscess in that foot last summer after winning the Grade 2 Del Mar Mile, Machowsky said. Caracortado, 5, has won 9 of 19 starts and $864,105.