Trained by Brendan Walsh, the 5-2 morning line favorite Special Wan (Ire) (Belardo {Ire}) has been scratched from the GII Longines Churchill Distaff Turf Mile Stakes by the state veterinarian, according to Team Valor's Barry Irwin on Saturday morning.
“Brendan [Walsh] told me that the state vet was there this morning and jogged her and thought she was just a tick off,” said Irwin. “Brendan jogged her himself and thought she looked fine, but did it again later and she was off. She was supposed to have a workout two weeks ago, and she spread a shoe.
“I have a hunch she's got an abscess,” said Irwin. “We will get her ready for the Just a Game Stakes. We skipped the Jenny Wiley for this race because we thought it was a better opportunity.”
Team Valor owns the 5-year-old mare along with Steven Rocco. In her lone start this year, Special Wan took home by 1 1/4 lengths the GIII Honey Fox Stakes at Gulfstream Park Mar. 1.
The GI Just a Game Stakes is scheduled for June 6 during the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival at Saratoga Race Course.
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