Six veterinary scratches have reshaped Friday’s Breeders’ Cup races at Keeneland, adding to a week of withdrawals that also removed Magnitude from Saturday’s Classic.
The October 30 update affects four juvenile championships, while Splendora’s earlier exit leaves the Distaff without last year’s Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint winner.
Horse Racing Nation reported that the six Friday veterinary withdrawals were listed as unsound in a stewards report supplied through Equibase before the championship races.
Gaudreau is out of the Juvenile. Great Barrier Reef and Man’s Best Friend are out of the Juvenile Turf, with Popcorn joining that field.
The Juvenile Fillies Turf lost Serenas Ghost and Go For Launch among its withdrawals, while Good to Be King came out of the Juvenile Turf Sprint.
Those changes make the final declared fields particularly important. Earlier entry lists no longer provide a complete picture of the horses expected to participate.
The Classic’s most significant loss came Thursday, when Magnitude was withdrawn. His retirement was subsequently announced by Coolmore America, with stud duties planned for 2027.
According to Thoroughbred Daily News, the multiple Grade 1 winner had been pointed toward Saturday’s championship but was scratched on veterinary advice before the retirement announcement.
Magnitude raced for Winchell Thoroughbreds and trainer Steve Asmussen. His departure removes a horse whose campaign included victories over two prominent Classic contenders this year.
He beat Forever Young in the Dubai World Cup at Meydan and Sovereignty in the Stephen Foster at Churchill Downs, underlining the quality now missing.
The four-year-old is due to begin his stallion career at Ashford Stud. His withdrawal ends his racing campaign rather than merely postponing another start.
Splendora’s absence also changes Saturday’s program. The five-year-old mare was withdrawn by veterinarians, with trainer Bob Baffert telling Daily Racing Form she was not considered fully fit.
Her exit, following Scottish Lassie’s withdrawal, reduced the Distaff field to seven. Nitrogen and Fully Subscribed remain central figures in that championship contest at Keeneland.
Splendora had won the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint in 2025. This year’s planned Distaff appearance would have tested her over nine furlongs.
The two-day championships run October 30–31, with Keeneland hosting for the fourth time after 2015, 2020 and 2022. Friday’s program centers on two-year-old runners.
