Racing Team 'Shocked' After Kentucky Derby Horse Scratched Before Saturday's Race

Originally posted on The Spun | By Tzvi Machlin | Last updated May 2, 2025 11:24 AM ET

We're just over 24 hours away from the 151st running of the iconic Kentucky Derby horse race. But while scratches are not uncommon, the timing of the newest one has left the horse's owner "confused" and "shocked."

On Friday morning, veterinarians decided to scratch Repole Stable's Grande from the first jewel of the Triple Crown. The horse had 20-1 morning line odds of winning the race and was the only entry for Repole Stable in the race.

But Repole Stable has not taken the news particularly well. In a lengthy statement released a short while ago, team owner Mike Repole said that while Grande has been battling an injury, they had recently gotten a clean bill of health for the horse.

"Unfortunately, the vets have decided to scratch Grande from tomorrow’s Kentucky Derby," Repole wrote on X.

"He has been battling a slight cracked heel this week which has been improving. To be cautious, Todd (Pletcher, the trainer) X-rayed on Monday and the horse had clean X-rays. On Wednesday, the state vets asked us if we could do a PET scan, and Grande had that yesterday and it was also clean."

Repole said that he and his people were "confused" by the sudden decision. He remarked that Grande had been "training and looking great" all week.

"He has been training and looking great on the track all week.

"The heel has improved throughout the week and it also improved again this morning. Unfortunately the vets told us this morning they were scratching the horse despite the clean diagnostics.

"We were very confused with all the clean diagnostics and improvement all week, why they rushed to judgment to scratch today."

LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY - MAY 01: Medina Spirit #8, ridden by jockey John Velazquez, leads the field around the first during the 147th running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on May 01, 2021 in Louisville, Kentucky. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)

Repole said that his team was "shocked and confused" that the scratch was announced just hours before the race.

"With the race being tomorrow, and Baeza already having drawn into the race, we are also shocked and confused why this decision was made now. We were given no real explanation why Grande was scratched 36 hours before the race.

"We all love these horses and our number one concern is the safety and welfare of these amazing Thoroughbreds. That is, and should always be the priority. With all the diagnostics we have taken, the great vets we use, and the experience of Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher, we are baffled and confused by what criteria vets are using to determine who scratches, who doesn’t and when…especially when every diagnostic tells us the horse is safe and sound."

Unfortunately, the vets have decided to scratch Grande from tomorrow’s Kentucky Derby.

He has been battling a slight cracked heel this week which has been improving. To be cautious, Todd X-rayed on Monday and the horse had clean X-rays. On Wednesday, the state vets asked us if…
— Repole Stable (@RepoleStable) May 2, 2025

Grande was one of the less experienced horses heading into the Kentucky Derby but has performed well as a three-year-old. He won his first two races at Gulfstream Park and was entered into the Wood Memorial Stakes as a qualifying race.

The son of Curlin finished second in the race to achieve 50 qualifying points - more than enough to see him through to Churchill Downs.

With both Grande and Rodriguez getting scratched, the Kentucky Derby field has now been reduced to 19.

This article first appeared on The Spun and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: