Black Onyx OUT

Black Onyx Scratched From Kentucky Derby
By Frank Angst
Updated: Friday, May 3, 2013 11:45 AM


Horseshoe Casino Cincinnati Spiral Stakes (gr. II) winner Black Onyx was scratched late on the morning of Friday, May 3 from the Saturday, May 4 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) at Churchill Downs.

Black Onyx was scheduled to break from the inside post in the 1 1/4-mile classic. Stewards have decided that the No. 1 slot will be left open in the Kentucky Derby starting gate and the remaining 19 horses in the Derby field will start from the post positions they drew in the May 1 post draw.

Also-eligible Fear the Kitten was scratched from the Derby earlier Friday morning.

Black Onyx's trainer Kelly Breen plans a press conference for later Friday to explain the decision to scratch.


Read more on BloodHorse.com: www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/78027/black-onyx-scratched-from-kentucky-derby#ixzz2SFZU3ARg


DRF:

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Black Onyx was scratched from Saturday's Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs around 11:30 Friday morning, leaving a field of 19 for the race.

His scratch came too late to allow also-eligible Fear the Kitten to draw into the Derby, with the deadline for early scratches, the point at which an also-eligible can gain entry to a race, passing about two hours earlier.Churchill Downs publicity announced the scratch, but provided no details regarding why the scratch was made.

Black Onyx's trainer, Kelly Breen, is expected to address the media in a press conference early Friday afternoon in the Churchill Downs media center.

The inside post, the position from which Black Onyx had been schedule to start, will be left open in the Kentucky Derby, Churchill Downs spokesman Darren Rogers said. The remaining horses will break from the post positions they drew at Wednesday's post draw.