Santa Anita vets scratch Flying Connection from Zenyatta Stakes

ARCADIA, Calif. – Flying Connection was scratched from the Grade 2 Zenyatta Stakes on Sunday at Santa Anita after track veterinarians reviewed a recent PET scan of the 4-year-old filly and would not allow her to start.

A multiple stakes winner listed as second choice in the Zenyatta, Flying Connection’s 7 for 17 career might be over. Frustrated trainer Todd Fincher disagreed with the veterinary evaluation.

“She jogged great (Sunday) morning and the HISA vet passed her,” Fincher said. “She’s sound. I know her very well.”

However, a PET-scan review by the track veterinary staff revealed “uptake” in a back ankle that they were concerned with. The purpose of a PET scan is to identify horses that might be at a higher risk of a catastrophic injury. The vets would not allow Flying Connection to run Sunday.

“No chips, nothing,” Fincher said. “And once they put them on a list, you’re screwed. (Other trainers) warned me about Santa Anita. They said, ‘stay away’.”

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California tracks including Santa Anita have erred on the side of caution in allowing horses to race or train. The objective is to reduce injuries. Many horses at Santa Anita have been scratched after veterinary review, including a handful from the 2023 Breeders’ Cup at Santa Anita.

That list of vet-scratched BC horses included One Timer (Turf Sprint), Bolshoi Ballet (Turf), American Theorem (Sprint), Givemethebeatboys (Juvenile Turf Sprint), Grand Mo the First (Juvenile Turf) and A Mo Reay (Distaff).

Flying Connection is a durable six-time stakes winner who placed this year in the Grade 1 Apple Blossom Handicap at Oaklawn Park and Derby City Distaff at Churchill Downs. She was using the Zenyatta as a prep toward the Breeders’ Cup Distaff on Nov. 2 at Del Mar. She will not make that race.

Fincher said Flying Connection is to be sold at auction this fall. A daughter of Nyquist, produced by multiple stakes winner Free Flying Soul, Flying Connection earned $993,300 for a partnership.

The scratch of Flying Connection reduces the Zenyatta to a field of five, led by program favorite Alpha Bella and Grade 2 winner Desert Dawn.

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