Raise Cain will run in Matt Winn instead of Belmont Stakes

Raise Cain, who was pointed to Saturday’s Belmont Stakes after finishing eighth in the Kentucky Derby, instead will be entered in the Grade 3 Matt Winn on Sunday at Ellis Park.

Ryan Martin, publicist for the New York Racing Association, reported the news in a Twitter post Monday afternoon.

The Matt Winn initially was to be run at Churchill Downs at 1 1/16 miles, but it was moved to Ellis Park in Henderson, Ky., along with the rest of the remaining Churchill Downs meet after the deaths of 12 horses who raced or trained at the Louisville, Ky., track.

“It shifted to Ellis and the distance changed to a mile and an eighth. …That kind of moved the needle,” Martin quoted trainer Ben Colebrook as saying.

Raise Cain, a Violence colt, earned his way into the Kentucky Derby with a win in the Gotham (G3) and a fifth-place finish in the Blue Grass (G1). The Gotham and his maiden win are his only victories from eight career starts.

He has been working at Keeneland, most recently breezing four furlongs in 50.2 seconds Saturday.

Other possibilities for the Matt Winn include Blue Grass runner-up Verifying and King Russell, a maiden winner who was 15th in the Kentucky Derby. Kentucky Derby runner-up Two Phil’s is a slim possibility, though trainer Larry Rivelli was leaning toward entering him in the Ohio Derby (G3) instead.