Grande was scratched from the Kentucky Derby on Friday, reducing the field for Saturday's race to 19 horses. The colt is the second horse withdrawn from the field for the 151st edition of the Kentucky Derby in two days.
Grande, trained by Todd Pletcher, had been listed as a 20-1 contender before being removed from the starting lineup. His withdrawal ends Pletcher's record streak of 21 consecutive Kentucky Derbies with a starter.
Owner Mike Repole announced the scratch, citing a foot issue. Repole posted Friday on X that the colt had been battling a slight cracked heel throughout the week.
Repole's post indicated that diagnostic tests, including a PET scan requested by Kentucky state veterinarians, came back clean. He stated the 3-year-old had been training well and showing improvement in the heel issue.
Despite the clean test results and improvement, state veterinarians decided Friday morning to scratch the horse. Repole expressed confusion regarding the decision.
This marks the third time Repole has had a horse scratched from the Kentucky Derby. Uncle Mo was scratched in 2011 and Forte was scratched on the morning of the 2023 race, both due to foot issues. Repole has yet to win the Derby in eight attempts.
Grande joins Rodriguez, trained by Bob Baffert, who was scratched on Thursday also due to a foot bruise. Rodriguez had been a 12-1 contender. Baffert, returning to the Derby this year, is scheduled to start Citizen Bull.
Horses outside Grande's original ninth post position will move inward one gate for Saturday's running of the Kentucky Derby 2025.
The initial field for the race was set at 20 horses.
"We were very confused with all the clean diagnostics and improvement all week, why they rushed to judgment to scratch today," Repole said.
