Tempera, last year's champion 2-year-old filly, was being pointed for the Oaks, but she became ill last week and was euthanized this past Sunday because of complications from colitis and laminitis. Also, Belterra was not entered in the Oaks because trainer Carl Nafzger thought that she had not recovered sufficiently from throat surgery. She possibly could run next in the Black-Eyed Susan Stakes at Pimlico or against the colts in the Lone Star Derby in Texas, Nafzger said.
Friday's Kentucky Oaks lost yet another top contender Wednesday when Demi O'Byrne, advisor to owner Michael Tabor, said Bella Bellucci would not run because "she is not 100%."O'Byrne said he and trainer Neil Drysdale reached the decision Wednesday morning to scratch the French Deputy filly.O'Byrne said Drysdale called him Tuesday night and said he was not happy with the way the filly was acting. "They did blood work and when the results came back this morning, we decided that Bella Bellucci should not run in the Oaks. As part of the routine, we took blood tests on all the horses and her's came back poor, so she can't run. It's a disappointment."
