Sarafan a Cup scratch

Sarafan, a winner of $2.3 million in his career, was scratched from Saturday's $1.5 million Breeders' Cup Mile at Santa Anita after a poor blood test, trainer Neil Drysdale said.

"He was a little dull," Drysdale said. "He's got a low blood count."

Owned by Gary Tanaka, Sarafan finished second in the Grade 2 Oak Tree Breeders' Cup Mile on Oct. 5, losing by a half-length to Designed for Luck, a top contender for the BC Mile.

Drysdale said he does not expect the setback to interfere with long-term plans to send Sarafan to Asia for the Japan Cup and possibly a race in Hong Kong.