(From Calder)

Trainer Kirk Ziadie scratched Robert Pastor’s 5-year-old mare Marina Ballerina from today’s $350,000 Princess Rooney Handicap (gr. I) this morning, citing a possible oncoming illness.

"She coughed a couple of times yesterday morning,” said Ziadie.  "I took a blood (test) and her white blood cells were a little elevated. She’s trying to come down with something, so I’m trying to do the right thing.
 
“It’s a big disappointment. We’d been pointing her to this race all along. We were excited about running in the grade I. I’m fortunate that my owner understands and he made it (the decision to scratch) real easy for me."

Marina Ballerina had won her two starts at Calder this year, including the prep for the Princess Rooney, the $75,000 U Can Do It Handicap on June 13.