Danza Out of Belmont

Danza (Street Boss), winner of the GI Arkansas Derby, will miss his next scheduled start in the GI Belmont S. June 7, owners Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners announced yesterday. Most recently third in the GI Kentucky Derby, trainer Todd Pletcher was unhappy with the way the chestnut emerged from his four-furlong breeze–completed in :49.49–Sunday at Belmont. 
    “Danza worked very well, but I wasn’t totally happy with the way he looked this morning,” Pletcher explained. “He had a hard race in the Arkansas Derby and came back three weeks later for the Kentucky Derby. He has acted well in the two weeks since the Derby, but I just sensed he wasn’t 100% after that breeze. We’re going to send him to Payton Training Center in Ocala for some diagnostics and time off.” 
    Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners President Aron Wellman added, “It’s disappointing to be knocked out of any race, let alone a Classic, but the horse must always come first. As soon as Todd [Pletcher] expressed any concern over Danza’s condition, it was a no-brainer to take a step back and regroup. We’ll conduct thorough due diligence and leave no stone unturned to ensure Danza returns to 100%.”