Wagon Limit Won’t Run in Classic

Wagon Limit, who beat Skip Away and Gentlemen in winning the Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont Park on Oct. 10, won’t run in Saturday’s $4-million Breeders’ Cup Classic at Churchill Downs because of a strained ligament in his right knee.

Trainer Allen Jerkens told Breeders’ Cup officials that Wagon Limit’s injury was discovered Monday morning at Belmont. The 4-year-old colt had been scheduled to arrive at Churchill Downs today.

Although Wagon Limit beat two of the favorites in the Classic, he was still considered a longshot for the race. He was 34-1 in the Jockey Club Gold Cup and had won only one of his 13 previous starts.

Another Breeders’ Cup contender has problems. Trainer Henry Cecil said Monday that Royal Anthem, winner of the Canadian International and expected to be favored in the $2-million Turf, was lame in his stall Sunday night. An inspection of his left front hoof showed that the 3-year-old colt had a separation of the hoof wall. He will be fitted with glue-on shoes, minus nails, if he runs Saturday.

Before his win on Oct. 18 at Woodbine, Royal Anthem had raced only in England, winning three of four starts. He is a half-brother--out of the same dam--of Sharp Cat, who was scratched from the Breeders’ Cup Distaff because of severe muscle cramps.

Royal Anthem worked seven furlongs in 1:31 3/5 over Churchill Down’s grass course last Saturday. Both Royal Anthem and Sharp Cat are owned by Prince Ahmed Salman of Saudi Arabia. Another of Salman’s horses, Military, may be switched from the Mile to the Turf if Royal Anthem can’t run.