Vets order scratch of Scarlet Fusion from Santa Anita Handicap

ARCADIA, Calif. – California state veterinarians ordered Midwest shipper Scarlet Fusion scratched from Saturday’s Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap after they were unsatisfied with a pre-race inspection Friday at Santa Anita.

Trainer Joe Sharp confirmed the scratch.

“The state vets took him out [Friday]. They weren’t happy with the way he jogged. My personal vet was happy with the horse, and we were happy with the horse, but they had some concerns so they opted to take him out.”

Scarlet Fusion won the Grade 3 John Connally Turf Cup at Sam Houston last out and would have entered the Big Cap as a live longshot based on his turf stakes win and dirt form that included a wide-trip third in a $200,000 stakes race at Oaklawn Park two starts back. Scarlet Fusion was listed at 12-1 on the Big Cap morning line.

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Sharp, who gets on many of his horses, was surprised at the scratch order.

“I got on the horse yesterday and today, and he felt incredible,” Sharp said Friday. “We’re obviously disappointed and don’t agree with the decision, but it’s the world we live in, so we’re just going to take him home.”

Scarlet Fusion, a Curlin 5-year-old sibling to graded stakes winners Visionaire, Scarlet Strike, and Tara’s Tango, was purchased for $110,000 at a horse of racing age sale in April 2022 by Carl Moore Management and Brad Grady. At the time, he had won 2 of 13. Since changing owners and transferring to Sharp, Scarlet Fusion has won two races and $266,245 from seven starts.

Sharp said Scarlet Fusion will train at Santa Anita until he returns to Fair Grounds next week and prepares for the Grade 2 Elkhorn Stakes, a $350,000 turf marathon April 22 at Keeneland.

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