Peter Callahan's Eclipse Award winner Swiss Skydiver (Daredevil), the joint second choice on the morning line for Saturday's $500,000 GI Ogden Phipps S. at Belmont Park, will be scratched from the race after spiking a fever.
“Unfortunately Swiss Skydiver had a 104 fever this morning. We are a scratch,” trainer Ken McPeek tweeted early Friday. “We've treated her to knock down the fever and will regroup later in the season.”
Last year's GI Preakness S. upsetter returned from her winter's rest to romp by 2 3/4 lengths in the GI Beholder Mile S. in her seasonal debut at Santa Anita Mar. 13, but was soundly beaten when third to Phipps favorite Letruska (Super Saver) in the GI Apple Blossom H. at Oaklawn Apr. 17.
Swiss Skydiver's defection leaves a field of five older females for the Phipps, a 'Win and You're In' qualifier for this year's GI Breeders' Cup Distaff at Del Mar. It was announced Thursday that last year's Distaff runner-up Valiance (Tapit) is also out of the Phipps.
Unfortunately Swiss Skydiver had a 104 fever this morning. We are a scratch. We've treated her to knock down the fever and will regroup later in the season. Never easy. pic.twitter.com/B3jJBKcKNX
— Kenny McPeek (@KennyMcPeek) June 4, 2021
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