Multiple graded stakes winner Handsome Mike on Oct. 28 was declared from the upcoming Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile because of a leg injury.
"He came back from the track after galloping with a little swelling in his left front leg," said Leandro Mora, assistant to suspended trainer Doug O'Neill, about the 5-year-old son of Scat Daddy, a stablemate defending Dirt Mile winner and 6/5 morning-line favorite Goldencents. "We scanned him, and it came back clean, but the swelling was still there. Four veterinarians recommended that I scratch for the health of the horse.
"It was bad timing," said Mora of the injury, which is not considered career-threatening. "He will get 20 days off."
Owned by J. Paul Reddam, Handsome Mike won the 2012 Pennsylvania Derby and has earned $1,005,413 with three victories in 30 starts. He was third behind Tom's Tribute and Rock Me Baby in the Del Mar Mile Aug. 24 in his most recent start and was pegged at 30/1 odds on the morning line for the Oct. 31 Dirt Mile at Santa Anita Park.
Because of suspensions in New York and California, O'Neill was not permitted to enter horses in this year's Breeders' Cup. The horses were instead entered in the World Championships under Mora's name.