Donn Handicap (gr. I) winner Graydar will be forced to miss the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (gr. I) Nov. 1 at Santa Anita Park after a quarter crack in his left front hoof was discovered the morning of Oct. 28.
The 4-year-old colt would have been one of the Dirt Mile favorites after winning the Kelso Stakes (gr. II) last month at Belmont Park, a Breeders' Cup Challenge race. Trainer Todd Pletcher said Twin Creeks Racing Stable's Graydar will be pointed to the Cigar Mile Handicap (gr. I) Nov. 30 at Aqueduct.
"We believed Graydar had a huge chance in the Breeders' Cup," said Pletcher. "This is a setback, but hopefully he can be 100% for the Cigar Mile."
Campaigned by Twin Creeks Racing Stables, Graydar is undefeated in 2013 with victories in the Donn Handicap (gr. I) at Gulfstream Park and New Orleans Handicap (gr. II) at Fair Grounds. An ankle chip after those two wins sidelined him earlier this year. He has earnings of $841,560 to date.
"We're obviously disappointed," said Randy Gullatt, manager of Twin Creeks Racing Stables. "A Breeders' Cup win is a top goal of ours, but we're always going to do what's in the best interest of the horse first. Graydar's comeback had gone perfectly until this point. He was undefeated this year and was sitting on a big race in the Breeders' Cup. Hopefully, this foot issue resolves quickly and we can make the grade I Cigar Mile before he retires to stud."