KHRC Forces the Scratch of Lord Miles From Derby

Trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. had already planned to scratch several horses entered May 4-6 at Churchill Downs but intended to keep Lord Miles  in the Kentucky Derby (G1), but the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission took that decision away from him.

The KHRC announced the afternoon of May 4 that all the trainer's horses would be scratched "effective immediately and until further notice." Shortly after that announcement, Churchill Downs announced that the trainer had been suspended indefinitely from the track.

The statement from the KHRC and its board of stewards read: "For the betterment of racing, the health and welfare of our equine athletes, and the safety of our jockeys, all horses trained by 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 in the 149th running of the Kentucky Derby."

The KHRC statement included a joint statement from Ray Perry, Kentucky secretary of the Public Protection Cabinet, and Jonathan Rabinowitz, KHRC chair. They said: "Kentucky is committed to being the global leader in safety and integrity of horse racing. We fully support the stewards' actions today to ensure the safety of our equine and human athletes while an investigation is ongoing into the unusual circumstances surrounding these tragic fatalities."

After two of his horses suffered sudden deaths during or just after races on the first two days of the Churchill Downs spring meet, Joseph had said earlier in the day May 4 that he would scratch some of the horses he has entered today and this weekend at Churchill but planned to run Lord Miles and two other stakes horses.

Churchill Downs Inc. followed the KHRC announcement with a notice of the indefinite suspension of Joseph at its tracks until further notice. The suspension prohibits Joseph, or any trainer directly or indirectly employed by Joseph, from entering horses in races or applying for stall occupancy at all CDI-owned racetracks.

"Given the unexplained sudden deaths, we have reasonable concerns about the condition of his horses, and decided to suspend him indefinitely until details are analyzed and understood," said Bill Mudd, president and chief operating officer of CDI. "The safety of our equine and human athletes and integrity of our sport is our highest priority. We feel these measures are our duty and responsibility."

The scratch of Lord Miles opens a spot in the Derby for Japan-based Japan-bred Mandarin Hero , who has been preparing for the Derby at Churchill, with his connections hoping to get in the race off the also-eligible list. With the May 4 scratches of Santa Anita Derby (G1) winner Practical Move  and Lord Miles, Mandarin Hero is poised to race. In his United States debut, Mandarin Hero finished second in the Santa Anita Derby, just a nose behind Practical Move.

He would be the third Japan-based horse to run in this year's race, joining Derma Sotogake  and Continuar . Kate Hunter, who has worked with this year's Japan-based connections, sent a tweet that Mandarin Hero would run Saturday. It said, "You’re in the Derby now!!! Worth the wait!"

Earlier in the day Thursday, Joseph said that as a precaution he would scratch his horses that recently were based at Keeneland, as that's where the two horses that perished were based. He planned to run three horses that were not previously based at his Keeneland barn, as two of those horses arrived from Florida, including upset Wood Memorial Stakes (G2) winner Lord Miles.

In a statement issued by the track May 3, Churchill said the deaths of Joseph-trained Parents Pride  Saturday and Chasing Artie  Tuesday were sudden and the cause in each case remains unknown. Both had breezed in April at Keeneland out of Joseph's barn there.

The KHRC issued an earlier May 4 statement saying that a necropsy would be conducted on each horse.

"The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission is actively investigating the recent and tragic racing and training fatalities in Kentucky. The KHRC is committed to the health and safety of every horse and rider and will follow the robust investigative procedures in place for issues of safety and racing integrity," the KHRC statement said. "As appropriate, musculoskeletal and sudden death necropsies will be performed at the University of Kentucky. Both types of necropsy are complete post-mortem examinations. Musculoskeletal necropsies focus on a known injury, while sudden death necropsies are broader in scope."

Joseph scratched Concrete Glory  from Thursday's third race, a starter allowance event on the dirt. He said he would scratch Lady Emily Kathryn  from Friday's first race, a maiden special weight on the dirt. 

The earlier KHRC statement said Joseph requested that the stewards scratch Concrete Glory and the stewards followed suit.

For Saturday Joseph also planned to scratch the horses that were at his barn at Keeneland. Based on recent workouts, those horses are Shockwave , Cape Trafalgar , Sister Lou Ann , and Lookin for Roses . 

Besides Lord Miles, who returned to Florida after his upset Wood win at Aqueduct, White Abarrio had shipped in from New York and was entered in the Churchill Downs Stakes (G1) while Master Piece had arrived from Florida for the Turf Classic Stakes (G1T).

Joseph said initial exams of the horses that died didn't find any obvious problem and he said he'll await further testing that's expected to be completed in the next 30 days. Joseph said he's looked for any possible cause and drawn blood from his horses for testing.

"We're doing everything, doing our due diligence to test everything," Joseph said. "We're looking at any supplements, the feed, hay, straw. We're trying to get everything sent out to get tested.

"It's a very uneasy feeling. We are dealing with a matter that is not good for anybody."

Records maintained at OwnerView.com list two drug positives since 2015 for which Joseph was sanctioned. He's also appealing a Pennsylvania Horse Racing Commission decision to disqualify Artie's Princess  from her victory in the $400,600 Presque Isle Downs Masters Stakes (G2) Sept. 19, 2022. That ruling calls for Joseph to be suspended for 15 days after the mare tested positive for gabapentin, a Class 3 drug in the Class B penalty category.

Joseph said he'll await more information from the necropsy of each horses and testing before venturing a guess on what happened to his two Churchill horses that died.

"We need to find out what happened; if there's a reason for it or if it was just random," Joseph said. "There's no answer yet."