Arcangelo’s October 25 work at Santa Anita. (Scott Serio/Eclipse Sportswire/Breeders Cup)
By Maribeth Kalinich
Updated 11/9/2023 10:00PM
Blue Rose Farm’s Arcangelo was withdrawn Tuesday from the Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic.
“We are going to be scratching. We, at this time, need more time,” said Arcangelo’s trainer Jena Antonucci on Tuesday.
“As we have said since Day 1, it is horse first. The journey that he brings us on is exciting and we are grateful for, but we are not going to get clouded by white noise and the excitement of it all.”
When asked to speculate on Arcangelo’s future, the history-making trainer offered: “I need to fully figure out where he is and what is going on and I need time to do that.
“We have such great options out here, resources at our fingertips, so I need to lean into that to make sure that he is well. He is coming out of his skin right now and he looks phenomenal, but I’m not comfortable.”
According to Antonucci over the weekend Arcangelo galloped a mile Saturday morning under regular exercise rider Robert Mallari. He was only walked Sunday morning after rear shoe was taken off Saturday afternoon.
“I pulled a left hind shoe off him. Transparency is important. I pulled the left hind shoe off yesterday afternoon and said, ‘Let’s just walk tomorrow. It’s no sense in going to do that (gallop). We’ve got lots of time.’ Whether he kicked the wall or bruised it or hit it, I don’t know. So, we just pulled the shoe off and give him a walk day and assess where we are at.
“He walked great this morning. I’m very happy with that.
“We’ll assess it as we roll. He may gallop tomorrow. He may walk tomorrow. We’ll stay fluid. Lots of time. That’s a good thing about a 10-day (breeze) schedule, you get lots of time,” Antonucci said Sunday.
The 4-year-old ridging walked for a second time morning Monday.
“He just walked today. I wasn’t able to get the shoe back on yet. He walked for about 45 minutes. There’s no reason not to have an extra walk day on him. He’s pretty fresh back there, so I probably won’t be able to get many more walks on him. I’m happy with the direction it’s going. Everything is going the right way.” Antonucci said on Monday.
Antonucci had referenced the removal of the shoe might have been required because of a bruised heel from a knock against a wall or however Arcangelo had kind of wacked his foot.
“He had a warmth from the inside of the heel. And whether he tagged the wall or whatever, we don’t know.” Antonucci told Horse Racing Nation on Monday.”
She went on to say: “We haven’t even looked at it, to be honest, like to put one back on. Just giving the foot a couple of days. He’s walked in mornings and walked afternoons, and he’s doing well. But it was just making sure all the warmth came out of it, just giving the foot a minute.”
The 2023 Belmont Stakes champion has not made a start since his win in the Travers in August 26 at Saratoga, his fourth consecutive victory.
The handsome gray son of Arrogate had completed three workouts since arriving at Santa Anita from New York. His first work Oct. 5, he covered five furlongs in 1:02.20. On Oct. 15 Arcangelo handle the same distance in one minute flat. His last work was Oct. 25 at four furlongs coving it in 47.40, the day his shoe was removed.
Antonucci has regularly spaced Arcangelo’s works ten days apart pointing to Wednesday, Nov. 1 as his next anticipated day on the worktab.
When remarking on Tuesday about the decision for the withdrawal Antonucci offered: “The left hind foot is resolving, but we’re still not 100 percent there and I want to know what it is. In order to figure out what it is, medications, those kinds of things, take racing out of the conversation. So, we have run out of time in that regard.”
“Today, Arcangelo was retired,” his trainer, Jena Antonucci, said Oct. 31. “We’ve run out of time.”
As previously reported, upon the conclusion of his racing career, multiple G1W and leading contender for champion 3-year-old male, Arcangelo will enter stud at Lane’s End Farm for a fee of $35,000 LFSN
The Arrogate colt is scheduled to undergo surgery for a left hind short lateral condylar fracture. The findings were made during precautionary radiographs that were performed at the Breeders’ Cup and a consultation by Dr. Larry Bramlage. The procedure was recommended to expedite the healing process and ensure Arcangelo’s long-term soundness.
“We expect a quick recovery and return to normal activities for Arcangelo,” said Bill Farish. “We do not anticipate this having any impact on his 2024 breeding season.”
Arcangelo, who arrived at Lane’s End, will go to the stallion barn to recover following the surgery.
