Smooth Roller Out of Breeders' Cup Classic
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Photo: Anne M. Eberhardt
Smooth Roller
The Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I) field was reduced to eight horses after the scratch of Awesome Again Stakes (gr. I) winner Smooth Roller the morning of Oct. 31.
Racing for Lucky Charm Stable, the Hard Spun gelding was scratched by the stewards from the $5 million Classic at Keeneland on the recommendation of Kentucky State Veterinarian Will Farmer due to a tendon issue in his left foreleg.
The change follows the Oct. 29 scratch of two-time champion female Beholder, leaving the field at eight horses, which would be the smallest since 1989 and would be tied for the smallest field ever, along with the eight-horse fields in 1984, 1985, and 1989.
Smooth Roller had been conservatively handled in the weeks before the 1 1/4-mile race in Lexington.
Trained by Victor Garcia, who had hoped to have his first Breeders' Cup Classic horse, Smooth Roller has won three of four starts including his 5 1/4-length score in the Awesome Again Sept. 28 at Santa Anita Park. He arrived at Keeneland Oct. 19 but had not worked since a five-furlong move in 1:01 Oct. 17 at Santa Anita.