Swiss Skydiver an Ogden Phipps Scratch Due to Fever

Swiss Skydiver , last year's Preakness Stakes (G1) winner and champion 3-year-old filly, will be scratched from the June 5 Ogden Phipps Stakes (G1) at Belmont Park after running a fever, trainer Kenny McPeek tweeted June 4. 

"It's unfortunate, but it's just one of those things in racing," McPeek said in a portion of a video that accompanied his tweet.

Unfortunately Swiss Skydiver had a 104 fever this morning. We are a scratch. We’ve treated her to knock down the fever and will regroup later in the season. Never easy. pic.twitter.com/B3jJBKcKNX

— Kenny McPeek (@KennyMcPeek) June 4, 2021

A 4-year-old filly by Daredevil   owned by Peter Callahan, Swiss Skydiver was the 5-2 co-second choice on the morning line for the Phipps, a "Win and You're In" qualifier for this fall's Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1) at Del Mar. She has run twice this year, taking the Beholder Mile Stakes (G1) March 13 at Santa Anita Park before running third in the Apple Blossom Handicap (G1) at Oaklawn Park April 17.

She becomes the second filly to be an announced scratch from what had initially been a seven-horse Phipps. Valiance  was declared out for trainer Todd Pletcher June 3, also due to running a temperature, Daily Racing Form reported.

Swiss Skydiver found her appetite in a small patch of clover. I think the overnight van ride stressed her. Shame she couldn’t fly due to Tex Sutton grounded. #everythinghappensforareason pic.twitter.com/Vw1Fdki0q0

— Kenny McPeek (@KennyMcPeek) June 4, 2021

The defections of Swiss Skydiver and Valiance will likely result in Letruska  and Shedaresthedevil  starting as short-priced favorites in the $500,000, 1 1/16-mile dirt race.

The Phipps would have marked the first meeting between Shedaresthedevil and Swiss Skydiver since they ran 1-2 in last September's Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1) at Churchill Downs.