Queen'splatekitten Scratched From Breeders' Stakes

Courtesy: WEG / Michael Burns Photography

Queen'splatekitten, who was the 3-1 morning line favourite for Sunday's $500,000 Breeders' Stakes at Woodbine, has been scratched from the race.

Trainer Todd Pletcher communicated the news to the Woodbine race office on Friday morning. Pletcher said he is not completely happy with how Queen'splatekitten is doing at this time, according to the Daily Racing Form. Queen'splatekitten was preparing for the Breeders' Stakes, the third jewel in the Canadian Triple Crown, with Pletcher at Saratoga.

Pender Harbour, the winner of the Prince of Wales Stakes at Fort Erie on July 17th, will now be the likely favourite for the race, a one-mile and one-half event on the E.P. Taylor Turf Course for three-year-olds foaled in Canada. Luis Contreras will ride Pender Harbour for trainer Mike DePaulo.

A win by Pender Harbour in Sunday's Breeders' Stakes would give Contreras an historic triple as he attempts to become the first jockey in the Triple Crown era to win all three jewels with two horses. Contreras won the Queen's Plate aboard the filly, Inglorious, and captured the Prince of Wales with Pender Harbour three weeks ago.

The 121st running of the Breeders' Stakes in the ninth race on Sunday's program and will be run at approximately 5:08 p.m. Canadian horse racing fans can catch the race on The Score, who will air a special one-hour presentation from 4:30 p.m. until 5:30 p.m.

Posted in: QPK,Woodbine