LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Grande has been scratched from the Kentucky Derby, decreasing the sphere for Saturday’s 151st version to 19 horses.
He joins Rodriguez on the sidelines after that colt was scratched on Thursday.
“Unfortunately, the vets have decided to scratch Grande,” proprietor Mike Repole posted Friday on X. “He has been battling a slight cracked heel this week which has been improving.”
Repole mentioned varied diagnostic assessments on Grande got here again clear, together with a PET scan requested by Kentucky state veterinarians.
He mentioned the 3-year-old colt had been “training and looking great” on the observe all week.
“We were very confused with all the clean diagnostics and improvement all week, why they rushed to judgment to scratch today,” Repole wrote.
“We are also shocked and confused why this decision was made now. We were given no real explanation why Grande was scratched 36 hours before the race.”
Repole has had this occur twice earlier than.
In 2011, Uncle Mo was scratched the day earlier than the race due to a gastrointestinal an infection
In 2023, Forte was scratched the morning of the race as a consequence of a bruised proper entrance foot.
The self-made billionaire from New York is 0-for-8 within the Derby.
“We all love these horses and our number one concern is the safety and welfare of these amazing Thoroughbreds. That is, and should always be the priority,” Repole wrote. “With all the diagnostics we have taken, the great vets we use, and the experience of Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher, we are baffled and confused by what criteria vets are using to determine who scratches, who doesn’t and when…especially when every diagnostic tells us the horse is safe and sound.”
Rodriguez’s scratch moved Baeza into the sphere. He was the one horse on the also-eligible checklist, so there can be no substitute for Grande.
Grande was the lone runner for two-time Derby-winning coach Pletcher and was to be ridden by Corridor of Famer John Velazquez.
