Three Breeders' Cup Defections

Two U.S. horses and one European runner being pointed toward Saturday's Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Racing Championships have defected for different reasons.

Trainer Bob Hess Jr. said Blueprint was withdrawn from the Turf after sustaining a strained right foreleg. Hess said the injury was detected following a workout Saturday in which Blueprint was timed in 1:00 2/5 for five furlongs. "It's a strain in the inner branch of his suspensory ligament," Hess said. "Considering his value, it's probably career-ending, but we'll have to wait and see."

Another West Coast horse, I Love Silver, was withdrawn from Breeders' Cup consideration by trainer Dean Greenman. Cross-entered in the Mile and Sprint, I Love Silver will run instead in either the Cigar Mile at Belmont Park in November or the Dec. 25 Malibu Stakes at Santa Anita.

On the European front, trainer Michael Stoute opted to run No Excuse Needed in Saturday's Champion Stakes at Newmarket, England rather than take a shot in the Mile. No Excuse Needed ran last in the Champion Stakes.