Vets Scratch 'Unsound' Thais From BC Filly & Mare Turf

Peter Brant's Thais has been scratched by veterinarians from the Nov. 2 Maker's Mark Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf (G1T) at Santa Anita Park, a move described by a leading California state veterinarian Oct. 31 as erring "on the side of the horse."

Trainer Chad Brown said the 5-year-old mare is "perfectly sound" and should have been allowed to compete in the $2 million race.

Dr. Rick Arthur, the California Horse Racing Board's equine medical director, said the decision to scratch Thais—first reported by Daily Racing Form—came after he and CHRB veterinarian Dr. Tim Grande inspected the mare with Brown present Oct. 30.

"She was examined by Dr. Tim Grande and myself, and we determined the filly was unsound and put her on the CHRB official veterinarian's list as unsound, which makes her ineligible to start," Arthur said.

Though he would not talk in specific terms about Thais' condition, Arthur said previous exams by track veterinarians raised concerns about the New York-based mare and led him to take the unusual step of examining her himself.

"She had been a horse that was examined previously and was one the governor's panel had concerns about, based on the previous examinations. She had been examined multiple times. I don't normally examine horses," Arthur said. "The bottom line is we examine all of the horses in the Breeders' Cup multiple times and take into consideration all of the information we have at our disposal. We err on the side of the horse."

Brown, a three-time Eclipse Award-winning trainer, insisted Thais was sound and that Arthur refused requests to take further diagnostic tests to prove it.

"It wasn't handled well. There was no conversation at all. I offered Dr. Arthur the opportunity to ultrasound her or use any other diagnostic tool, including X-rays, and he declined and abruptly scratched my horse," Brown said. "I would never run a horse that wasn't sound. I never have and never will. My record speaks for itself. The horse is perfectly sound and has been. She trains sound and has no medications in her.

"Unfortunately, it's not my decision if my horse can run, so I'm going to drop the issue, turn the page, and focus on the race."

Though Thais was listed at 30-1 on the morning line, her absence could change the complexion of the 1 1/4-mile race. Her primary purpose was to serve as a pacesetter for her stablemate, Brant's champion grass mare Sistercharlie, a role she effectively played in all three of Sistercharlie's 2019 starts: the Flower Bowl Stakes (G1T), Beverly D. Stakes (G1T), and Diana Stakes (G1T). Thais also started in last year's Filly & Mare Turf—won by Sistercharlie—but got away to a slow start and had no impact on the race.

"I have several other horses in my barn I could have brought who can do the job Thais would have done, so why would we bring her if she's not 100% sound? That doesn't make sense," Brown said. "It impacts the pace for sure and changes it totally, but Sistercharlie won the race last year without help from her. Thais is a pacemaker, but she could also hang on for a piece of purse money, and that's why we wanted her in there."

Brown said he will have to discuss future plans for Thais with Brant. She may not race again. In 18 starts, the daughter of Rio de La Plata has three wins and earnings of $342,589. In her most recent start, she lasted for third in the Flower Bowl after leading by 12 lengths early.

Arthur said horses placed on the vet's list cannot work for at least 72 hours, and after that they are required to work five furlongs in 1:03 or better in front of an official vet and pass a blood test.