Free as a Bird Refuses to Fly, Out of Cup
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Free as a Bird was scratched from the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (gr. IT) the morning of Oct. 29 after the 5-year-old mare refused to fly, according to trainer Ian Wilkes.
Wilkes said the daughter of Hard Spun —Take the Cake, by Fly So Free, became upset when engines were started on the Tex Sutton charter plane bringing horses to Santa Anita Park from Kentucky. Other than her apparent fear of flying, the mare is fine, Wilkes said.
Free as a Bird was 15-1 morning-line shot who would have been ridden by Tyler Baze from the 9 post.
As a result of the defection, Lael Stables' Ageless draws into the field for the Turf Sprint, contested at 6 1/2 furlongs down the hillside turf track. The 5-year-old Successful Appeal mare has won or placed in 14 of 16 starts, finishing second to Free as a Bird in the Buffalo Trace Franklin County Stakes over yielding turf at Keeneland Oct. 10.
A homebred for Elizabeth Volando, Free as a Bird was riding a five-race stakes win streak coming into the World Championships. With earnings of $503,208, the mare has an 8-4-5 record from 21 starts.