Breeders Crown officials have announced that two horses have been scratched from the finals that will be raced this weekend at Hoosier Park.

JL Cruze, a winner of $364,974 this year who finished third in his Crown elimination last weekend – was scratched today (Tuesday, October 24) due to a slight injury. JL Cruze had drawn Post 2 for the $526,250 Breeders Crown Open Trot Final.

“It looks like he might have pulled a suspensory,” said trainer Eric Ell. “My second trainer wasn’t sure if it was something that happened in the race, like he hit himself or what. He jogged today and had some filling, so he did the right thing and got it checked out.

“We’ve had a pretty good year – been third and fourth a lot and we were looking forward to being in the Breeders Crown – but I have to do what’s right by him. If we tried to race, we might put him out for longer, but as it is, we will scratch him, bring him home and get him looked at and shoot for next year.”

The scratch-time deadline is Wednesday, so, per the race conditions, the Also Eligible #1, Gural Hanover, who was sixth in his Crown elimination, will move into the final and will start from Post 9.

Pasithea Face S, who racked up wins in the Steele Memorial, Ms. Versatility and Allerage on her way to $308,764 in earnings this year, was reported as scratched from the mare trot by her owner Courant AB on social media. She was officially scratched by trainer Jimmy Takter today. The scratch reduces the $250,000 Breeders Crown Mare Trot to just four starters, and fifth-place money will go home with the winner.

(Breeders Crown)