Ky. Derby: Joseph is suspended, Lord Miles is scratched

Churchill Downs Inc. suspended trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. indefinitely, and his Kentucky Derby 2023 contender Lord Miles was scratched from Saturday's race.

The actions come after the unexplained deaths at Churchill Downs of two horses trained by Joseph.

The scratch was announced Thursday afternoon after the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission and the state’s board of stewards consulted with Joseph.

Churchill Downs said its suspension prohibits Joseph, or any trainer directly or indirectly employed by Joseph, from entering horses in races or applying for stall occupancy at all CDI-owned racetracks.

“Given the unexplained sudden deaths, we have reasonable concerns about the condition of his horses, and decided to suspend him indefinitely until details are analyzed and understood,” Bill Mudd, president and chief operating officer of CDI, said in a news release. “The safety of our equine and human athletes and integrity of our sport is our highest priority. We feel these measures are our duty and responsibility.”

Parents Pride, a 4-year-old Maclean’s Music filly, died after being pulled up at the top of the stretch in Saturday night’s eighth race. Chasing Artie, a 5-year-old We Miss Artie gelding, collapsed after he finished last in the eighth race Tuesday afternoon.

Initial bloodwork detected no irregularities, and the necropsies were planned for both horses.

Joseph told Horse Racing Nation earlier Thursday that the two horses had been shipped to Churchill Downs after being stabled in a common barn at Keeneland.

Three other horses in the barn were scratched from races Wednesday, Thursday and Friday with the consent of the KHRC, Joseph said.

But he planned to run Lord Miles in the Derby as well as White Abarrio in the Churchill Downs (G1) and Master Piece in the Turf Classic (G1), all Saturday. Those horses also were scratched from their races, according to the KHRC statement.

“They weren’t in that barn with the other horses,” Joseph said. “They’ve come from a different area.”

Joseph also said he was cooperating with track management and the KHRC in the investigation of the deaths.

The scratch clears the way for Mandarin Hero, who finished a close second last month in the Santa Anita Derby (G1), to start in the Derby. He would start to the far outside if there are no more defections.