C R K Stable's Skinner (Curlin) will be scratched from Sunday's $100,000 Affirmed S. at Santa Anita, trainer John Shirreffs told the Santa Anita notes team Saturday.
The decision was made following a Saturday morning gallop over the Santa Anita main track.
“I just wasn't happy with the way he jogged,” the conditioner said.
Skinner, a $40,000 Keeneland September yearling turned $510,000 OBS April juvenile, broke his maiden in his 3-year-old debut in February and finished third to Practical Move (Practical Joke) in both the GII San Felipe S. and GI Runhappy Santa Anita Derby.
The bay was green-lighted for a run in the GI Kentucky Derby May 6, but was withdrawn from consideration two days prior to the race with an elevated temperature. Skinner was back on the worktab as soon as May 14 and had logged two additional breezes since then.
Skinner's defection leaves a field of five for the Affirmed, led by 8-5 morning-line favorite Geaux Rocket Ride (Candy Ride {Arg}), last seen finishing second in the San Felipe Mar. 4.
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