The complexion of the 2022 Maple Leaf Trot has changed dramatically with the news that morning line favourite Alrajah One IT has been scratched from the event and will not race for the remainder of the year.

Sarah Svanstedt confirmed the news to Trot Insider on Friday morning (Sept. 2).

"He had a little bit of a big ankle coming in from the paddock yesterday," Svanstedt told Trot Insider. "So we took him to scan the leg and he has a suspensory [injury] so unfortunately he's not able to race more this year."

In just three starts on North American soil, Alrajah One IT electrified fans of harness racing on his side of the Atlantic after a successful career in Europe prior to 2022. His most recent success came in the John Cashman Memorial Trot on Hambletonian Day at The Meadowlands, trotting in 1:50.3. The Cashman win followed successful starts in the Crawford Farms Open at the Big M and the Spirit Of Massachusetts at Plainridge Park in July.

Bred in Italy, the six-year-old son of Maharajah out of the Varenne mare Mariu is owned by by Scuderia My Horse Inc. of Delray Beach, Florida. Alrajah One IT sports 16 career victories and more than $1.5 million in purse earnings.