Three scratched Friday from Breeders' Cup races

ELMONT, N.Y. - Three horses were scratched on Friday from Saturday's Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships at Belmont Park: Numerous Times, the undefeated Canadian turf miler, and Fleet Renee and Slew Valley, trainer Michael Dickinson's two entrants.

Numerous Times, entered for the Mile, was scratched because he wrenched an ankle in his stall. Fleet Renee and Slew Valley never arrived at Belmont Park from Dickinson's Tapeta Farm in Maryland.

According to Dickinson, both horses were suffering the effects of flu. Fleet Renee was a contender the Distaff, Slew Valley a longshot in the Turf.

The owners of all three horses received refunds of their pre-entry and entry fees after providing veterinary certificates verifying their conditions, according to Breeders' Cup officials.

Numerous Times will be rested until next year, trainer Sid Attard said. Unbeaten in six starts, Numerous Times turned his ankle in the stall on Thursday.

Attard said X-rays revealed no long-term damage, but the ankle was swollen.

"He acted up in his stall and turned his ankle," Attard said. "With a little time off, we'll be okay."

Numerous Times was considered a contender in the Mile. On Sept. 9, he won his stakes debut in the Grade 1 Atto Mile at Woodbine against a strong field of runners from throughout North America.

"He can be a handful," Attard said. "If we don't get out at home first thing in the morning, he can be a [live] wire. At home, he goes out in the dark."

Attard said he stayed at the barn until 11 p.m. Thursday, monitoring Numerous Times's condition.

"He's very quiet this morning," Attard said on Friday. "It's like he knows he's hurt himself."

Dickinson withdrew his pair after they trained at his farm on Friday.

"Slew Valley was perfect on Thursday and he had a canter today," Dickinson said. "He came back and was a little quiet. He coughed three times and had a slight temperature. He'll be over it on Wednesday, but there is no Breeders' Cup on Wednesday."

He said the $250,000 Hollywood Turf Cup at Hollywood Park on Dec. 1 was a possibility for Slew Valley.

Dickinson said Fleet Renee had stomach cramps on Friday. She would have been seeking her third Grade 1 victory in the Distaff, having won the Ashland Stakes and Mother Goose Stakes earlier this year.

"I think she has the same little bug," Dickinson said. "I'm devastated."