Derby Disappointment: Repole ‘baffled’ after vets scratch Grande from Kentucky Derby

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- It wasn't quite the disappointment of losing major Kentucky Derby contenders Uncle Mo or Forte just ahead of the race, but still not welcome news for prominent owner Mike Repole that the Todd Pletcher-trained Grande was scratched from the Derby Friday morning with a cracked heel.

It's a similar situation, however, to Forte, in that state vets apparently made the call.

In a social media post Friday morning, Repole said, "Unfortunately, the vets have decided to scratch Grande from tomorrow’s Kentucky Derby. He has been battling a slight cracked heel this week which has been improving. To be cautious, Todd X-rayed on Monday and the horse had clean X-rays. On Wednesday, the state vets asked us if we could do a PET scan, and Grande had that yesterday and it was also clean."

Still Repole said, the decision was made to scratch the horse. Two years ago, Repole and Pletcher expressed disappointment when state vets scratched the race favorite, Forte, on the morning of the race.

Repole, who has gained some new notoriety for his part in the Netflix series Race for the Crown, said this move by state vets leaves him bewildered.

"We were very confused with all the clean diagnostics and improvement all week, why they rushed to judgment to scratch today. With the race being tomorrow, and Baeza already having drawn into the race, we are also shocked and confused why this decision was made now. We were given no real explanation why Grande was scratched 36 hours before the race."

Unfortunately, the vets have decided to scratch Grande from tomorrow’s Kentucky Derby.

He has been battling a slight cracked heel this week which has been improving. To be cautious, Todd X-rayed on Monday and the horse had clean X-rays. On Wednesday, the state vets asked us if…
— Repole Stable (@RepoleStable) May 2, 2025

The Curlin colt had two wins and a second-place in just three career starts. He did not race at 2.

"We all love these horses and our number one concern is the safety and welfare of these amazing thoroughbreds," Repole said. "That is, and should always be the priority. With all the diagnostics we have taken, the great vets we use, and the experience of Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher, we are baffled and confused by what criteria vets are using to determine who scratches, who doesn’t and when …especially when ... every diagnostic tells us the horse is safe and sound."

Grande's defection leaves the Derby with only 19 starters after the scratch of Bob Baffert's Rodriguez.