Practical Move, the winner of the Santa Anita Derby and a 10-1 contender for the 2023 Kentucky Derby, has been scratched from Saturday’s race due to an elevated temperature, the Derby announced Thursday.
Trainer Tim Yakteen talked to TVG after the announcement and said everything was routine during Practical Move’s workout earlier in the day, but the horse showed signs of health concerns afterwards. Yakteen expects a full recovery.
Horseman @timyakteen talks with @CBredar about the heartbreaking scratch of Santa Anita Derby (G1) winner Practical Move from the Kentucky Derby. pic.twitter.com/4DvT3bbiHR
— TVG (@TVG) May 4, 2023
It’s the second Derby contender out of the field after Wild On Ice died during a morning workout on April 28 prior to the post position draw. The run up to the Kentucky Derby has been marred by the deaths of four horses at Churchill Downs in a week. Wild On Ice was the only one of those horses slated to run in the Derby.
Cyclone Mischief has drawn into the field as a replacement for Practical Move. The colt is trained by Dale L. Romans, who won the 2011 Preakness Stakes with Shackleford. Cyclone Mischief opens with 91-1 odds, which would tie the largest long-shot victory in Kentucky Derby history should they hold. Rich Strike drew into the field the morning of the race last year and stunned bettors with an 80-1 victory.
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