Laurel River, Bran Scratched From Breeders' Cup Races

Laurel River , who had been expected to be one of the favorites for the Big Ass Fans Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1), and multiple graded stakes winner Bran  who was entered in the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (G1T) were scratched from their respective Nov. 5 races by Kentucky Horse Racing Commission veterinarians, according to KHRC. 

The Juddmonte-owned Laurel River became a Breeders' Cup Challenge qualifier for the Dirt Mile when he won the Aug. 27 Pat O'Brien Stakes (G2) by 3 3/4 lengths at Del Mar, one of two starts and victories for the colt this year. He also captured an allowance optional claiming race July 31 there, which had followed a layoff going back to September 2021, when he also scored at Del Mar.

Garrett O'Rourke, general manager of Juddmonte USA, declined comment.

Horses aimed at the 14 Breeders' Cup races undergo multiple veterinary inspections leading up to the races, and annually a small number of pre-race scratch recommendations are made by the veterinary team in the interest of equine safety. Approximately 20 Breeders' Cup veterinarians are on site supporting KHRC regulatory veterinarians in an advisory role, conducting joint exams with KHRC veterinarians. Any scratches are made by the commission's regulatory vets.

Laurel River was one of five horses entered by Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert in the Breeders' Cup this year.

A homebred 4-year-old son of Into Mischief  , Laurel River is out of the Empire Maker  mare Calm Water , a sister to grade 1 winner Emollient. He has a record of 4-1-0 in seven starts with earnings of $314,620.

He had been the 9-2 co-third choice on the morning line for the Dirt Mile behind Cody's Wish  (5-2) and Gunite  (7-2).

Bran's scratch following a Nov. 4 morning inspection was confirmed by trainer John Sadler.

"The inspection team was not that happy with him. I thought he was OK, but I respect their opinion," Sadler said. "At the end of the day, he is a gelding and a hard-trying horse. We'll give him some time off and then crank him up again for next year."

Bran is a 4-year-old son of Muhaarar (GB) who started his career in France and began racing for Hronis Racing in the United States this year. He's been a consistent performer with three wins from eight starts and only one finish off the board. Bran was coming into the Turf Sprint off a victory in the FanDuel Turf Sprint Stakes at Kentucky Downs, in which he defeated Artemus Citylimits  and Arrest Me Red , who also have been entered in the Turf Sprint.

With Bran out, Surfside Stables' Oceanic draws into the race as the second also-eligible in the race. The first also-eligible Dancing Buck  had been withdrawn earlier.

Oceanic  is a grade 2-placed stakes winner by Constitution and trained by Jordan Blair. He comes into the Turf Sprint off a second-place finish in the 5 1/2-furlong Woodford Stakes presented by FanDuel (G2T) Oct. 8 at Keeneland behind Golden Pal.