C R K Racing's Skinner (Curlin) is out of the GI Kentucky Derby because of an elevated temperature, Churchill Downs said in a release early Friday morning. The horse was scratched by trainer John Shirreffs, according to Kentucky Horse Racing Commission stewards.
Skinner had galloped a mile Friday morning during the special 7:45 to 8 a.m. Derby/Oaks training period and all looked well. But then, back at Barn 41, several temperature checks did not come back right, forcing his conditioner to alert track officials that it would not be right for him to run Saturday.
With the defection of Skinner, the Derby field is down to 19 starters. Practical Move (Practical Joke), Lord Miles (Curlin) and Continuar (Jpn) (Drefong) were scratched on Thursday.
The last time four horses were scratched from the Kentucky Derby was 2015 when 22 horses entered the race.
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