The Breeders' Cup Sprint lost yet another top contender when trainer Todd Pletcher revealed Discreetly Mine will miss the race because of an injury to his left stifle. Division leader Majesticperfection was the first major defection from the race when retired because of injury late this summer.
Pletcher said it took several days to diagnose the exact nature of Discreetly Mine's problem but received the bad news from Dr. Larry Bramlage on Wednesday.
"It's nothing too serious, but he'll have to be given 60 days off, which naturally eliminates the Sprint from consideration," Pletcher said. "If all goes well we hope to have him back in training again this winter at Palm Meadows. This is terribly disappointing to us because obviously this horse found his niche sprinting during the second half of the season."
Discreetly Mine won his last three starts at distances ranging from six to seven furlongs including the Grade 1 King's Bishop and Grade 2 Amsterdam this summer at Saratoga.
BC RANKINGS: DRF's top tens by division with odds by Mike Watchmaker (PDF)
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Two horses who do appear headed for the Sprint are Girolamo and Riley Tucker after finishing first and second respectively on Saturday in Belmont's Grade 1 Vosburgh Invitational.
Rick Mettee, New York based assistant for Godolphin, said Girolamo will be pointed for the Sprint following his popular 2.5 length victory over Riley Tucker. The Vosburgh was the first start at six furlongs for Girolamo and earned him a 105 Beyer Speed Figure.
"I was pleased with his performance," said Mettee. "He ran fast but not too fast and I think he's still got room to improve. He'll need to run a little faster to win the Sprint but he's lightly raced which means we should have a fresh horse for the rest of the season."
Trainer Steve Asmussen was equally happy with Riley Tucker's second place effort in the Vosburgh.
"I was definitely pleased with his performance and considering his best effort for us came at Churchill Downs, there are a lot of things to like about running him in the Sprint," Asmussen said.
Riley Tucker won the Grade 3 Aristides while earning a career best 110 Beyer Speed Figure this spring at Churchill Downs.
The final two major Sprint preps are on tap this week, Friday's Grade 3 Phoenix at Keeneland featuring Warrior's Reward and Saturday's Grade 1 Ancient Title at Hollywood Park.
