Quality Road scratched from $5M Classic

updated 8:49 p.m. ET Nov. 7, 2009

ARCADIA, Calif. - Quality Road was scratched from the $5 million Breeders' Cup Classic on Saturday after he bucked violently in the starting gate and scraped his hind leg.

The 3-year-old refused to enter the gate before the signature race of the two-day world championships at Santa Anita. Handlers tried everything to get him loaded, leading him in circles and even placing a hood over his head.

After he was finally pushed in, Quality Road bucked numerous times and had to be backed out. Fearing an injury, the decision was made to scratch the Todd Pletcher-trained horse.

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"We got the worse luck at the worst time on the biggest day," Pletcher said.

Veterinarian Larry Bramlage initially said Quality Road scratched his hind leg.

"He's a bit of a juvenile delinquent anyway," Bramlage said. "It became a contest of wills. There wasn't anything that helped. He wasn't going in the gate today."

Fellow vet C. Wayne McIlwraith said the horse sustained superficial cuts to his limbs.

"You can't race when you have a bleeding laceration," McIlwraith said.

The rest of the field also was backed out of the starting gate because of the delay. They were led back in moments later and, after getting off to a slow start, unbeaten mare Zenyatta rallied to the victory before a crowd of 58,845.

Quality Road had been impressive in his last race, edged out by Belmont Stakes winner Summer Bird in the Jockey Club Gold Cup. The colt won the Florida Derby and was considered the Kentucky Derby favorite before hoof injuries sidelined him for the Triple Crown season.

Quality Road has a history of acting up at the gate. This time, it cost his connections a shot at winning North America's richest race.

"It was bad timing," Pletcher said.