Joevia scratched from Haskell Stakes 2019, leaving field of six
Joevia, a local stakes winner who appeared to be a pace factor in Saturday's Grade 1, $1 million Haskell Invitational, has scratched from the race.
Monmouth Park race caller Frank Mirahmadi made the announcement. The reason is unknown.
Earlier Saturday, in an interview with TVG, trainer Gregg Sacco didn't indicate anything was off with the colt, a son of Shanghai Bobby who finished third in the Belmont Stakes in his most-recent start.
While many considered Joevia to be a potential pace setter, Sacco expected his horse to rate behind Maximum Security and a pair of Parx Racing shippers, Bethlehem Road and Spun to Run.
“I think he’ll be in a nice striking position," Sacco told TVG, "and once again, when the running starts we’ll see if Joe has some gears.”
The defection leaves a field of six led by Maximum Security for the Haskell, a 1 1/8-mile race delayed to an 8:05 p.m. start due to extreme heat Saturday.
Joevia ran green three back in the Wood Memorial (G2) but bounced back to win Monmouth Park's Long Branch Stakes on May 12. From there, Sacco elected to take a shot at the Belmont, a race in which he stuck around for a classic placing after setting the fractions.
Sacco had left his Monmouth Park barn before sought for comment by Horse Racing Nation. He told TVG's Gabby Gaudet that Joevia has a foot issue.
Campaigned by brothers Michael and Jeff Fazio, Joevia could be seen next in Saratoga's Aug. 24 Travers (G1).