Mutafaweq a Turf Scratch

Mutafaweq, winner of the Canadian International at Woodbine two weeks ago, came out of the race stiff and has been scratched from next Saturday’s $2-million Breeders’ Cup Turf at Churchill Downs.

Trainer Saeed bin Suroor said it is possible Mutafaweq will run in the Japan Cup in Tokyo on Nov. 26. Godolphin Racing, the stable name for Sheik Mohammed, the crown prince of Dubai, will run Fantastic Light in the Turf. Fantastic Light, also trained by Suroor, made his U.S. debut by winning the Man o’ War Stakes at Belmont Park on Sept. 7, then ran fourth in Belmont’s Turf Classic a month later. Godolphin won last year’s Turf at Gulfstream Park with Daylami.

With Mutafaweq out, Williams News moves into the 14-horse Turf field from off the also-eligible list. Williams News, who lost by a nose to Mutafaweq at Woodbine, has won two of nine starts this year. Two of the outings were at midyear at Churchill, a win in allowance company and a second to Buff in the Louisville Handicap.

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The status of Pine Dance for the $4-million Breeders’ Cup Classic was unclear after his third-place finish, five lengths behind the winner, Kiss A Native, in Friday night’s Pegasus Handicap at the Meadowlands. Kiss A Native wasn’t preentered for the Breeders’ Cup. If Pine Dance doesn’t run, his spot would be taken by Guided Tour, a Churchill Downs-based horse trained by Niall O’Callaghan.

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When the Churchill Downs fall meet opens today, the most intriguing horse on the card will be Aptitude, the 3-5 morning-line favorite in an allowance race. Aptitude chased Classic favorite Fusaichi Pegasus twice early this year, finishing third in the Wood Memorial and second in the Kentucky Derby, and trainer Bobby Frankel’s Hollywood Park shipper hasn’t run since finishing second behind Commendable in the Belmont Stakes on June 10.

Aptitude might remain at Churchill to run in the $400,000 Clark Handicap on Nov. 24. He’ll be ridden today by Victor Espinoza, the leading rider of the Oak Tree meet at Santa Anita. Espinoza will be riding at Churchill throughout Breeders’ Cup week.