Armbro Continental, scheduled to start from Post 6 in the $638,580 Breeders Crown Trot tomorrow night at Mohawk Racetrack, has been scratched sick from the championship event.
"It's really an awful thing for everyone, the owners, us, and everybody connected to the horse," said trainer Steve Bossence. "This is a horse who spends most of the day outside and doesn't like to be out of his environment, and after being in the retention barn he just got tied up tight as a drum. I have to do what's right by him. I can't race him."
The six-year-old son of Garland Lobell has made $379,750 lifetime for owners Bossence, Max Berketa and Doug Woodhouse, all of Ontario. He was to have been their first starter in Crown competition.
"I feel the worst for my daughter, Stephanie," continued Bossence. "She has worked so hard on him and I dreaded telling her. But we have to hope he will come back out of it all right."
Man About Town will move into the race as the first also eligible. He will wear saddlepad number 11 but leave from Post 10 for driver Paul MacDonell.
Donato Poliseno's Man About Town has won more than $500,000 lifetime, but is still seeking his first win of 2008. Trained by Mark Silva, the four-year-old son of Self Possessed galloped in the single Crown elimination, and was seventh-placed-ninth.
The Breeders Crown Trot is one of four $1.9 million Breeders Crown Finals, which along with the $1 million Metro Pace and the $672,000 Shes A Great Lady Stake will be broadcast across Canada on the Score Television Network in a special 2-1/2 hour program that airs from 8:30 - 11:00 p.m.
(Breeders Crown)