Withdrawal Announcement

Grande has officially been scratched from the 151st Kentucky Derby, leaving 19 horses to compete on Saturday. This decision follows the earlier withdrawal of another colt, Rodriguez, who was scratched on Thursday.

Owner’s Reaction

Mike Repole, the horse’s owner, expressed his disappointment through a post on X. “Unfortunately, the vets have decided to scratch Grande,” he stated. The colt has been dealing with a slight crack in his heel, though improvements were noted throughout the week.

Repole emphasized that diagnostic tests, including a PET scan requested by state veterinarians, returned clean results. He had observed Grande training and performing well at the track.

Concerns About Decision-Making

Repole voiced his confusion regarding the timing and rationale behind Grande’s scratching, stating: “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.”

This incident is not an isolated one for Repole; he recalled similar experiences in the past—most notably with Uncle Mo in 2011, who was withdrawn before the race due to gastrointestinal issues, and Forte, who was scratched in 2023 due to a foot bruise. Repole has yet to win the Derby after eight attempts.

Veterinary Safety Concerns

Highlighting the welfare of thoroughbreds, Repole asserted, “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.” He expressed frustration over the criteria used by veterinarians when deciding who to scratch from races.

Impact on the Derby Field

With Grande’s withdrawal, Baeza, who was on the also-eligible list, has moved into the field, ensuring no additional replacement for Grande. The absence of Grande is notable, as he was the only entrant trained by two-time Derby winner Todd Pletcher and was scheduled to be ridden by Hall of Famer John Velazquez.