Tender foot knocks Mach Ride out of BC Sprint

Elmont, N.Y. - The Breeders' Cup Sprint lost a major player on Saturday when trainer Steve Standridge declared Mach Ride from the race due to a foot injury.

Mach Ride moved to the upper echelon of the division this summer by beating Fabulous Strike and Smokey Stover in Calder's Grade 2 Smile Sprint Handicap. In his last start, Mach Ride finished fourth, despite breaking awkwardly, in the Grade 1 Vosburgh.

"He popped an abscess in his foot a week after the Vosburgh and it's still too soft and tender to work him as planned on Sunday," said Standridge. "And he had to work to be able to run in the Sprint."

Mach Ride, currently stabled at Belmont Park, will return to his home base at Calder as soon as possible.

"He'll be fine in a week or so," said Standridge. "We knew we'd be cutting it close when he came down with the abscess. You hate to miss a race like this but it's not worth pushing it and taking a chance of hurting the horse."

Mach Ride's defection assures that the other 14 horses pre-entered for the Sprint will have a chance to run.

The status of another potential Sprint candidate, In Summation, will not be made until after the versatile colt works at Belmont Park on Sunday.

In Summation has won each of his last three starts, all stakes, including the Grade 1 Bing Crosby Handicap at Del Mar in which he defeated Sprint hopefuls Greg's Gold and Bordonaro. He has breezed just once, a half-mile in 46.60 seconds at Belmont last Sunday, since dead-heating for first in the Arlington Sprint Handicap on Aug. 25.

"He got sick after his last start and we gave him some time off," said trainer Christophe Clement. "Our original plan was to run in the Nearctic Stakes at Woodbine but there wasn't enough time to get him ready so we decided to keep him eligible for the Sprint and see how he's progresses."

Clement said he has not yet selected a rider for In Summation in the Sprint.

* Two trainers who'll have new riders for the Sprint are Bob Baffert and Nick Zito.

Baffert will turn the reins on Midnight Lute over to Garrett Gomez, who replaces Shaun Bridgmohan. Zito will go with Joe Bravo on Commentator.

"Shaun did a great job in the Forego but he doesn't ride for me very often and Garrett and I have had a lot of luck together," Baffert explained.

"When in Rome, do what the Romans do," Zito said referring to the fact the Breeders' Cup is at Monmouth Park where Bravo is the perennial riding champion.

* Kelly's Landing worked five furlongs in 59 at Keeneland on Saturday. The Sprint will mark the first start for Kelly's Landing since his victory in the Dubai Golden Shaheen on March 31.