Empire Maker Out of Gold Cup With Foot Bruise

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Juddmonte Farms' Empire Maker will not run in Saturday's Jockey Club Gold Cup due to a foot bruise suffered Wednesday morning. Trainer Bobby Frankel said the Belmont (gr. I) winner will be shipped back to California.

"We just found it this morning," Frankel said. "It busted out just above the coronet band. Maybe that's why he was acting up on the track this past week. It's never been easy with this horse. But I'm not upset. We're all alive and healthy, and that's more important than missing a race."

As for the Breeders' Cup, Frankel simply said, "We'll see."

Empire Maker previously had missed the Travers (gr. I) after coming down with a cough, and had been training brilliantly for the Gold Cup, coming off two sharp 6-furlong works.

The son of Unbridled has also captured the Wood Memorial (gr. I) and Florida Derby (gr. I).

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