Reddam Racing's Bond Holder, winner of the FrontRunner Stakes (gr. I), has been scratched out of the Feb. 22 Risen Star Stakes (gr. II) after suffering an injury en route to Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots.
"He got banged up quite badly on his flight to New Orleans," owner Paul Reddam said. "We hoped it would be superficial and he would be fine for Saturday, but it is worse than we thought so we are going to have to scratch him."
The son of Mineshaft is coming off fourth-place finishes in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (gr. I) and CashCall Futurity (gr. I) and had been working sharply for trainer Doug O'Neill for the 1 1/16-mile Risen Star. He was coming into the race with six straight six-furlong works since Jan. 4.
Bred in Virginia by Lazy Lane Farm, Bond Holder, a $125,000 purchase at the Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's March sale of selected 2-year-olds in training. The bay colt has one victory in seven starts, taking the FrontRunner at Santa Anita Park as a maiden over the likes of Dance With Fate and Tamarando.