SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Skelly, the 4-1 choice on the morning line, has been scratched from Saturday’s Grade 2, $400,000 Alfred G. Vanderbilt Stakes, trainer Steve Asmussen said Friday.
“It’d take his best to win that,” Asmussen said. “He was not himself this week.”
Asmussen said that he doesn’t plan on taking Skelly out of training, explaining that the horse “just needs more time.”
Skelly is a seven-time stakes winner who finished second in the Vanderbilt last year.
◗ Wilton Stakes winner Sweet Seraphine was scratched from Saturday’s Grade 1 Coaching Club American Oaks due to an infection, trainer Cherie DeVaux said.