DEL MAR – The biggest horse races of the summer on opposite ends of the country were both diminished yesterday, losing horses to illness and injury.
Today's $1 million Travers at Saratoga is devoid of the Empire Maker-Funny Cide rematch racing fans envisioned following the Belmont Stakes.
Thursday night, trainer Bobby Frankel withdrew Empire Maker because of concerns about the colt's present health. Yesterday, Funny Cide trainer Barclay Tagg withdrew his horse for the same reason.
And the field for tomorrow's $1 million Pacific Classic here was reduced from five to four when Kudos was declared out with a bowed (swollen) tendon in the left foreleg, discovered yesterday morning.
Tagg said he didn't like the way Funny Cide sounded when galloping a mile and a half yesterday morning at Saratoga. "We thought that he was breathing a little rough," Tagg said. "I 'scoped him about a half-hour after he came back and he was full of mucus in his throat."
Tagg couldn't say specifically what was wrong with Funny Cide, whether it was due to an infection or allergies, but he didn't think it was serious. "It is a very common thing," Tagg said. "Horses are athletes. The only difference is horses cannot talk or whine like football players."
Frankel reported that Empire Maker had coughed several times on Thursday, but that was not the deciding factor in his decision to scratch.
"He's OK, but I'm not taking any chances," Frankel said. "I'm erring on the side of caution. Like I say, 'When in doubt, you take them out.' And I was in doubt. I'm very comfortable with my decision."
If there is a rematch this year between Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner Funny Cide and Belmont victor Empire Maker, it could come in the $4 million Breeders' Cup Classic, Oct. 25 at Santa Anita. But there's no guarantee.
"If he (Funny Cide) doesn't run for the rest of the year, I don't care; if I can run him next month, that will be fine," Tagg said. "But I'm not going to do anything with him until he gets better. We hope to have a long future with him. That's why I'm trying to take care of him right now."
The developments left Rancho Santa Fe's Edmund Gann as the owner with the favorites in the Travers and the Pacific Classic after morning-line odds were revised in both races. Both are trained by Frankel.
Gann's Peace Rules is the 8-5 choice in the Travers, followed by Sky Mesa (2-1), Strong Hope (5-2), Ten Most Wanted (5-1), Congrats (15-1) and Wild and Wicked (20-1).
For the Pacific Classic, Gann's Medaglia d'Oro is now the even-money choice, followed by Candy Ride (6-5), Milwaukee Brew (3-1) and Fleetstreet Dancer (20-1).
The four-horse field will be the smallest in the 13 runnings of the Pacific Classic, one fewer than 1997, when four rivals were unsuccessful against 1-2 favorite Gentlemen.
Richard Mandella, who trained Gentlemen as well as 1996 upset winner Dare And Go, had no choice when the swelling was clearly evident on Kudos yesterday morning.
"It's not a terribly bad bow, but it's bad enough," the Hall of Fame trainer said. "We'll do some surgery on him, and then we'll give him some time off and we'll try him again next year."
Kudos, a 6-year-old Kris S. gelding with seven wins in 24 starts and earnings of more than $1.2 million, looked sharp while turning in a five-furlong workout in 59.80 seconds on Thursday.
Mandella said then that he thought Kudos was "right there with" the Pacific Classic favorites. "I'm just proud to have him to lead over there," Mandella said.
Then yesterday morning dawned.
http://www.signonsandiego.com/sports/delmarraces/20030823-9999_1s23delmar.html
Today's $1 million Travers at Saratoga is devoid of the Empire Maker-Funny Cide rematch racing fans envisioned following the Belmont Stakes.
Thursday night, trainer Bobby Frankel withdrew Empire Maker because of concerns about the colt's present health. Yesterday, Funny Cide trainer Barclay Tagg withdrew his horse for the same reason.
And the field for tomorrow's $1 million Pacific Classic here was reduced from five to four when Kudos was declared out with a bowed (swollen) tendon in the left foreleg, discovered yesterday morning.
Tagg said he didn't like the way Funny Cide sounded when galloping a mile and a half yesterday morning at Saratoga. "We thought that he was breathing a little rough," Tagg said. "I 'scoped him about a half-hour after he came back and he was full of mucus in his throat."
Tagg couldn't say specifically what was wrong with Funny Cide, whether it was due to an infection or allergies, but he didn't think it was serious. "It is a very common thing," Tagg said. "Horses are athletes. The only difference is horses cannot talk or whine like football players."
Frankel reported that Empire Maker had coughed several times on Thursday, but that was not the deciding factor in his decision to scratch.
"He's OK, but I'm not taking any chances," Frankel said. "I'm erring on the side of caution. Like I say, 'When in doubt, you take them out.' And I was in doubt. I'm very comfortable with my decision."
If there is a rematch this year between Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner Funny Cide and Belmont victor Empire Maker, it could come in the $4 million Breeders' Cup Classic, Oct. 25 at Santa Anita. But there's no guarantee.
"If he (Funny Cide) doesn't run for the rest of the year, I don't care; if I can run him next month, that will be fine," Tagg said. "But I'm not going to do anything with him until he gets better. We hope to have a long future with him. That's why I'm trying to take care of him right now."
The developments left Rancho Santa Fe's Edmund Gann as the owner with the favorites in the Travers and the Pacific Classic after morning-line odds were revised in both races. Both are trained by Frankel.
Gann's Peace Rules is the 8-5 choice in the Travers, followed by Sky Mesa (2-1), Strong Hope (5-2), Ten Most Wanted (5-1), Congrats (15-1) and Wild and Wicked (20-1).
For the Pacific Classic, Gann's Medaglia d'Oro is now the even-money choice, followed by Candy Ride (6-5), Milwaukee Brew (3-1) and Fleetstreet Dancer (20-1).
The four-horse field will be the smallest in the 13 runnings of the Pacific Classic, one fewer than 1997, when four rivals were unsuccessful against 1-2 favorite Gentlemen.
Richard Mandella, who trained Gentlemen as well as 1996 upset winner Dare And Go, had no choice when the swelling was clearly evident on Kudos yesterday morning.
"It's not a terribly bad bow, but it's bad enough," the Hall of Fame trainer said. "We'll do some surgery on him, and then we'll give him some time off and we'll try him again next year."
Kudos, a 6-year-old Kris S. gelding with seven wins in 24 starts and earnings of more than $1.2 million, looked sharp while turning in a five-furlong workout in 59.80 seconds on Thursday.
Mandella said then that he thought Kudos was "right there with" the Pacific Classic favorites. "I'm just proud to have him to lead over there," Mandella said.
Then yesterday morning dawned.
http://www.signonsandiego.com/sports/delmarraces/20030823-9999_1s23delmar.html
