Breeders' Cup not instore for Golden Ticket

By: SPORTS NETWORK

Lexington, KY (Sports Network) - Travers Stakes co-winner Golden Ticket will be held out of this year's Breeders' Cup after coming down with an infection. The 3-year-old was not pre-entered in the $5 million Breeders' Cup Classic by his connections.

"He worked really poor on Saturday and I was not happy," trainer Ken McPeek said Tuesday morning. "We scoped him after the work and he was really clogged and had a lung infection.

"We postponed the decision until 11 yesterday morning, but it was pretty obvious he was not 100 percent. We will nominate him for the Clark (Handicap, to be run Nov. 23 at Churchill Downs) but it is doubtful he'll run. Our goal is to get him ready for next year and have him compete with the top older horses."

Golden Ticket, owned by Magic City Thoroughbred Partners, was timed in 1:02.40 for a five-furlong workout Saturday morning.

The 3-year-old colt finished in a dead heat with Alpha in the Travers at Saratoga on Aug. 25 as a 33-1 longshot. He then finished third at 6-1 in the Pennsylvania Derby on Sept. 22. with Alpha finishing sixth.

Golden Ticket has won two of 11 career starts for $648,335.