Skin Rash Knocks Spun to Run Out of Pegasus
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Photo: Anne M. Eberhardt
Spun to Run wins the Breeders Cup Dirt Mile
Owner Robert P. Donaldson said it felt like a "punch in the gut."
Ever since Spun to Run shipped to the Palm Meadows Training Center in early December to begin working toward a start in the Jan. 25 Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes Presented by Runhappy (G1), Donaldson's colt had been batting a skin disease.
There were ups and downs with treatments but on Jan. 21 when Donaldson talked with trainer Juan Carlos Guerrero about his 4-year-old Hard Spun colt, there was a positive report.
"Carlos said he was doing great and Carlos rarely talks like that," Donaldson said.
Then on the morning of Jan. 23 came a different call from Guerrero. Spun to Run's condition had worsened to the point where Guerrero said he could not race Spun to Run in the Pegasus and would have to scratch the Big Ass Fans Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1) winner from the $3 million race at Gulfstream Park.
"It's very disappointing," Donaldson said, "but you can't run your horse when he's not right. Carlos said he broke out in big, red hives that will scab up in a few weeks. I knew he was fighting this and I'd rather fight this than something more serious. He's jogging sound. Carlos is very broken up about it. It's really unfortunate. The highs are high and the lows are lows in this game but at least I still have my horse."
Donaldson said he believes the skin rash was caused by Spun to Run's reaction to wood shavings.
Spun to Run had been installed as the 7-2 second favorite in the original morning line at the Jan. 22 post position draw for the Pegasus and landed post nine. As a result, there is now a field of 11 in Saturday's race with Mucho Gusto moving into post 9, Tenfold into 10 and Bodexpress into 11.
News of the skin rash leading to the scratch was first reported by Daily Racing Form's Jay Privman, and later confirmed by Gulfstream officials.
Later Thursday, the Pegasus field took another hit when Omaha Beach was scratched due to injury, reducing the field to 10.