Missed the Cut

Missed the Cut, a Quality Road colt, began his racing career in England at age 3 and made his first seven starts there during 2022, six of them on turf and one on all-weather, with four wins. He then made one start in Saudi Arabia in early 2023 before relocating to California.

John Sadler assumed training duties, and Missed the Cut finished second in his U.S. debut in June before testing graded stakes waters in two starts. He checked in seventh on dirt in the San Diego Handicap and then fourth on turf in the Del Mar Handicap heading into the fall season.

On Oct. 1, 2023, Missed the Cut posted his first U.S. win in the Grade 3 Tokyo City Cup Stakes going 1 ½ miles on dirt at Santa Anita Park. He sat off the early pace and took over at will under jockey Umberto Rispoli to win by a comfortable 5 ½ lengths as the 3-5 favorite in a field of four. Missed the Cut subsequently finished 12th in the Longines Breeders' Cup Classic in his following start.

Missed the Cut was ready for the Santa Anita meet and made his next start on opening day on Dec. 26, 2023 when he finished second in the Grade 2 San Gabriel Stakes. He switched to the grass for his next start and was victorious in the Grade 3 $100,000 San Marcos Stakes going 1 1/4 miles on the turf at Santa Anita on Feb. 10, 2024.

Missed the Cut added another win on March 23 at Santa Anita in the Grade 3 $100,000 San Luis Rey Stakes going 1 1/2 miles on the turf. Sent off as the even-money favorite in a five-horse field in the San Luis Rey, Missed the Cut delivered with a 1 1/4-length victory.