Skinner has become the latest horse to be scratched from the Kentucky Derby.
Trainer John Shirreffs announced on Friday that the California-based colt has an elevated temperature.
With Skinner’s defection, the field for the 149th Derby on Saturday is now down to 19 horses. The scratch deadline was 9 a.m. EDT on Friday, so no more horses can be added to the field. Three horses were scratched on Thursday.
Essential Quality is the former 3-1 favorite for the Derby. The colt stumbled during training on Thursday, but he was out again on Friday without any issue. Trainer Todd Pletcher said, “Everything is on track now.”
Promising Move also had an elevated temperature. King Fury’s trainer, Saffie Joseph Jr., has been suspended indefinitely by Churchill Downs Inc. days after two of his horses died on the track after races. Investigators have yet to determine the cause of either death. Proxy was scratched because his trainer said he was not in the best form to compete.
The last time four horses were scratched from the Derby was in 2015.
