Big-hearted Belmont and Travers champion Arcangelo has been scratched from the Breeders’ Cup Classic and has been retired from racing, a result of a persistent, and grave, medical issue with his left hind foot, it is reported from Santa Anita. He has been absent from training from the last two days as the trackside chatter, and worries, have only increased.
Trainer Jena Antonucci, brushed off claims of a scratch as recently as yesterday, at the post-position draw in Pasadena, saying that the issue would be resolved in time for the race, but she added that they were being careful. That care is demonstrated in the swift scratch and in the decision to retire. The scratch was announced at Santa Anita by Antonucci. The decision to retire came from owner Jon Ebbert, who bought the ridgling colt for $35,000.
Antonucci said that, although the foot was improving, they had too little time left before the race. She told the Daily Racing Form: “We are going to be scratching, we need more time to diagnose the horse is well. We’ll do what we always do in putting him first, even if it means we will not be able to participate.”