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Japanese horse Epicharis scratched from Belmont Stakes

8 years ago in Sports

An exercise rider guides a race horse off the track after a workout at Belmont Park, Thursday, June 8, 2017, in Elmont, N.Y. The 149th running of the Belmont Stakes horse race is on Saturday. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson) Photo: Associated Press

NEW YORK (AP) — The Belmont Stakes is down to 11 horses after Epicharis was scratched by a veterinarian.

The Japanese horse was scratched this morning, about 9½ hours before the $1.5 million race is run at Belmont Park.

Martin Panza of the New York Racing Association says Epicharis wasn’t ready to run three days after the colt was treated for lameness in his right front hoof. The horse’s Japanese connections had hoped he would still make the race, but Epicharis had not been sent out to train since Tuesday.

A pre-race exam this morning revealed heat in Epicharis’ hoof. The exam is required for all starters in the Belmont.

Irish War Cry is the early 7-2 favorite for the final leg of the Triple Crown series.

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