Saffie Joseph trainee Lord Miles is under consideration for the Preakness Stakes, despite being scratched from the Kentucky Derby by the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission after two of Joseph's trainees suffered instances of sudden death in the week leading up to the Run for the Roses.
Owner/breeder Peter Vesgo told the Thoroughbred Daily News that Lord Miles will work Friday morning, after which a decision will be made on whether the colt will target the Preakness or the Belmont Stakes.
The two ill-fated Joseph trainees were among seven equine fatalities in the days leading up to the Kentucky Derby. “Sudden death” means that the horse's cause was not immediately apparent and did not seem to be due to external trauma or musculoskeletal injury.
Joseph trainee Parents Pride collapsed and died after failing to finish a race on April 29, and Chasing Artie suffered a similar fate after finishing last, beaten 28 ¾ lengths, in a May 2 turf sprint. Joseph trained the horses for Ken Ramsey.
KHRC officials released a statement following their decision to scratch all Joseph-trained horses: “For the betterment of racing, the health and welfare of our equine athletes, and the safety of our jockeys, all horses trained by trainer Saffie Joseph, Jr. are scratched effective immediately and until further notice. This action is taken after consultation with Mr. Joseph, and includes Lord Miles who was entered into the 149th running of the Kentucky Derby.”
Nonetheless, Vesgo believes Joseph will be able to run Lord Miles in either Maryland or New York, depending on which scenario is the best timing for the horse.
“The horse had nothing to do with any of this,” Vesgo told TDN. “I know they are waiting for the results of the necropsies of the horses that passed away for Saffie. There are those two and five others that passed away. But none of that has anything to do with Lord Miles.”
Vesgo detailed the stewards' decision from his viewpoint:
“We had been waiting for years to get a horse that would take us to the Kentucky Derby,” the owner told TDN. “My family, my daughters, my grandchildren were all there. We chartered a plane and got there. We arrived and then got the news we were scratched. We never heard from Churchill Downs. We only heard from the trainer. I tried calling the stewards and I didn't get any answers out of them. They took away our tickets. The treated us like crap. We were given 18 tickets in a suite and they took them all away.”
Read more at the Thoroughbred Daily News.
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