Traitor won't run in Breeders' Cup

Local trainer Mary Eppler confirmed yesterday that her promising 2-year-old colt Traitor will not run Oct. 26 in the $1 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile at Woodbine.

She said the hard-running son of Cryptoclearance would spend the winter in Florida and launch his 3-year-old career there. The Florida Derby in March would be a target, she said. After that, if all goes well, the Triple Crown races are the goal.

"We'll put him away for the winter and hope he comes back bigger and stronger next year," she said from her barn at Pimlico.

In four starts since July, Traitor won twice, finished second once and third once. He would have been one of the favorites at Woodbine.

But Traitor's owner, Alfred G. Vanderbilt, is more interested in next year than the Breeders' Cup. The 84-year-old former owner of Sagamore Farm has yearned for another Kentucky Derby contender ever since his Native Dancer finished second by a head in 1953.

Pub Date: 10/09/96