Magician scratched from Breeders' Cup Turf

ARCADIA, Calif. - Magician was scratched from the Breeders' Cup on Wednesday, denying the colt a chance to defend his title in the $3 million Turf.

Magician is the second major defection in as many days. American Pharoah, the 2-1 favorite, withdrew from the $2 million Juvenile on Tuesday because of a foot injury.

Magician, trained in Ireland by Aidan O'Brien, was slated to make a second straight U.S. start, having run second in the Arlington Million in August.

"When he came out of a trot this morning, he was found to be acutely lame," O'Brien said of the right front leg injury. "It was an instant decision to take him out of the race."

The Turf was the 4-year-old's final race. He is headed to stallion duty at Ashford Stud in Versailles, Kentucky.

"It's very disappointing," O'Brien said. "We were looking forward to this."

Magician finishes with a record of 5-4-0 in 14 starts with $2.5 million earned.

There was another scratch on Wednesday when Free as a Bird refused to fly and withdrew from the $1 million Turf Sprint. The 5-year-old mare balked at entering the charter plane for the flight from Kentucky to California.