Saratoga: Overdriven will miss Hopeful

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Though a final diagnosis has yet to be made on Overdriven, owner Mike Repole said Tuesday that the undefeated 2-year-old colt will definitely miss the Grade 1 Hopeful on Sept. 5.

After having two workouts canceled in nine days, Overdriven was shipped to the New Bolton Equine Clinic Pennsylvania where a nuclear scintigraphy proved inconclusive. Additional X-rays taken Monday were sent to two veterinarians for their analysis.

“I do know the Hopeful is 100 percent out,” Repole said. “We haven’t ruled out the Champagne.”

The Champagne, which Repole won last year with Uncle Mo, is Oct. 8 at Belmont Park.

Meanwhile, Repole also said it is “99 percent” certain that his impressive 2-year-old maiden winner Giant Surprise would be retired due to a leg fracture. Giant Surprise won a six-furlong maiden race here July 30 by 4 1/4 lengths, running six furlongs in 1:10.23 and earning a 90 Beyer.

In that race, he was pulled up by John Velazquez while galloping out and did not return to the winner’s circle. Repole credits Velazquez’s “professionalism” for enabling the colt to survive.

Repole purchased Giant Surprise as a yearling for $190,000 at the Keeneland September sale.