LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Lord Miles has been scratched from Saturday’s Kentucky Derby after a decision by the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission and the Board of Stewards and trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. has been suspended indefinitely.
Lord Miles, winner of the Grade 2 Wood Memorial on April 8, is trained by Joseph, who had two of his horses die at Churchill Downs earlier this week.
“For the betterment of racing, the health and welfare of our equine athletes and the safety of our jockeys, all horses trained by trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. are scratched effective immediately and until further notice,” the Board of Stewards wrote in a news release. “This action is taken after consultation with Mr. Joseph and includes Lord Miles, who was entered into the 149th running of the Kentucky Derby.”
Also Thursday, Churchill Downs Incorporated announced the indefinite suspension of Joseph. The suspension prohibits Joseph, or any trainer directly or indirectly employed by him, from entering horses in races or applying for stall occupancy at all CDI-owned racetracks.
The decisions come after two horses trained by Joseph collapsed and died after races at Churchill Downs: Parents Pride on Saturday and Chasing Artie on Tuesday, both after the eighth race.
“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.”
Lord Miles was the second horse to be scratched from the Kentucky Derby field on Thursday. Practical Move was scratched by trainer Tim Yakteen because of an elevated temperature.
Cyclone Mischief and Mandarin Hero both moved into the field off the also-eligible list. King Russell is the last horse remaining on the also-eligible list and needs one more defection by 9 a.m. Friday to make the field.
Joseph said he’s searching for answers after two of his horses died in the past week.
Joseph said Parents Pride and Chasing Artie had been stabled at Keeneland before shipping to Churchill Downs. Before the KHRC’s ruling Thursday afternoon, Joseph had scratched several horses set to run Thursday, Friday and Saturday who also had been stabled at Keeneland before shipping to Churchill.
“If there is something going on over there like contamination — or we don’t know what it is — some virus or something,” Joseph said Thursday. “We don’t know. We have no answers. I mean, there’s a lot of questions. There’s a lot of thoughts, but there’s nothing right now.”
Joseph had planned to run three horses entered Saturday at Churchill Downs — White Abarrio in the Grade 1 Churchill Downs, Master Piece in the Grade 1 Turf Classic and Lord Miles.
Joseph scratched Concrete Glory from Thursday’s third race at Churchill Downs. Also scratched will be Lady Emily Kathryn from Friday’s first race; Shockwave and Cape Trafalgar from Saturday’s second race; and Sister Lou Ann from Saturday’s Distaff Turf Mile.
On Wednesday, Joseph scratched Accomplished Girl from the Mamzelle Overnight Stakes.
Joseph said neither Parents Pride nor Chasing Artie suffered injuries during the races and that initial blood tests showed no troubling signs.
The causes of death have not been confirmed, pending necropsies.
Mark Partridge, manager of the Ramsey Farms that owned Parents Pride and Chasing Artie, said results will be available in two-three weeks. The necropsies will be performed at the University of Kentucky Veterinary Diagnostics Lab, according to a statement from Churchill Downs.
“Something’s not right,” Joseph said Wednesday. “These horses, it wasn’t because of injury. They left the gate and didn’t even try and then dropped down. … Theories aren’t going to help. We need facts.
“All of their (bloodwork) came back good. Nothing’s showing. We’re testing feed, hay, everything, supplements. We’re trying to see if it was anything on our part.”
Joseph was seeking his third trip to the Kentucky Derby. He finished eighth with Ny Traffic in 2020 and 16th with White Abarrio in 2022.
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