Illness Knocks Sharp Samurai Out of Breeders' Cup Mile
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Photo: Benoit Photo
Sharp Samurai, the City of Hope Mile winner at Santa Anita this month, will miss the Breeders' Cup because of a throat infection
Four-time graded winner Sharp Samurai will miss the Nov. 3 Breeders' Cup Mile (G1T) because of a throat infection, trainer and co-owner Mark Glatt said Oct. 25.
The 4-year-old gelding and last-out winner of the Oct. 6 City of Hope Mile Stakes (G2T) was scheduled to put in his final workout for the Mile Oct. 27 at Santa Anita Park and ship to Churchill Downs Oct. 30, but plans were derailed when the illness was discovered.
"It's not a major deal, but it's something that's not going to be 100% by next week," Glatt said.
DAUGHERTY: Sharp Samurai Powers Through to Win City of Hope
Owned by Glatt, Red Baron's Barn, and Rancho Temescal, the son of First Samurai logged his first stakes victory of the season in the City of Hope Mile after back-to-back runner-up efforts in the Eddie Read Stakes (G2T) and the Del Mar Mile Handicap (G2T). Last year as a 3-year-old, Sharp Samurai won three straight graded races—the La Jolla Handicap (G3T), Del Mar Derby (G2T), and Twilight Derby (G2T).
Sharp Samurai's withdrawal opens the door for Shadwell Stable's Mustashry to make the Breeders' Cup Mile field as the first of seven pre-entries that did not make the initial field. The Tamayuz gelding, trained by Sir Michael Stoute, has won two straight group 2 races in England, the Sept. 15 Alan Wood Plumbing & Heating Park Stakes and the Sept. 28 Shadwell Joel Stakes.