Saratoga: Fever knocks likely favorite Mentee out of Sanford

Mentee, the 6-5 morning-line favorite for the Grade 3 Sanford at Saratoga on Saturday, will be scratched from the field with a fever.

The plans to scratch were announced Saturday morning on the official X account for Repole Stable, Mentee’s owner and breeder. According to the post, Mentee had a fever of 102.2 degrees at 4:15 a.m. EDT, leading to the decision to scratch.

Mentee drew the rail in the Sanford, but was expected to be favored nonetheless off of his maiden win June 15 at Belmont. That day the Todd Pletcher trainee set the pace and held by a nose over Colloquial. He won in fast fashion, setting a track record of 56.97 seconds for five furlongs on dirt.

A 2-year-old son of City of Light out of the Stay Thirsty mare Nonna Bella, Mentee is a full brother to 2023 champion 2-year-old male Fierceness, winner of the 2023 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile and 2024 Florida Derby (G1) for Repole and Pletcher.

This defection leaves an expected field of seven for the Sanford. With Mentee out, the shortest price left on the morning line is Studlydoright, who was 7-2 on the original list. The lone stakes winner in the field, Studlydoright rallied to upset the Tremont by 1 3/4 lengths June 6 at Saratoga.