Attila’s Storm, Dixie Chatter withdrawn from Breeders’ Cup
races
Sprint (G1) contender ATTILA’S STORM (Forest Wildcat) and Juvenile (G1)
threat DIXIE CHATTER (Dixie Union) were withdrawn Thursday morning from their
respective engagements in Saturday’s Breeders’ Cup World Thoroughbred
Championships.
Attila’s Storm was set to make his third straight appearance in the $2
million Sprint, but trainer Richard Schosberg contacted Breeders’ Cup racing
officials early Thursday morning from New York to declare the son of Forest
Wildcat.
“He has some filling in there (left front ankle) and was a little sore this
morning,” Schosberg said. “The digital X-rays didn’t show us anything. It’s
nothing major, but he’s not 100 percent. We are the protectors of these horses,
and there’s no way I could even consider running him. It’s unfortunate.”
Dixie Chatter arrived from California on a Tex Sutton charter flight Monday
as a leading contender for the $2 million Juvenile for trainer Richard Mandella,
but ran a temperature Wednesday evening and Thursday morning.
“He had a little temperature last night and still this morning,” Mandella
said. “It ain’t what we came here for, but we’ve seen this movie before. We’ve
got to err on the side of caution. Hopefully, he’ll be able to fly back Monday.”
Dixie Chatter ran a temperature of 102 degrees and has been treated.