Asiatic Boy out of Whitney with fever

Trainer Kiaran McLaughlin was forced to scratch ASIATIC BOY (Arg) (Not for

Sale) from Saturday's $750,000 Whitney H. (G1) at Saratoga after the

six-year-old horse developed a fever Friday afternoon.

"It's very unfortunate and difficult. We liked our chances today," McLaughlin

said. "Yesterday afternoon, he was 102.2. He had a little bit of dry mucus, but

we hoped he was going to be OK.

"We kept taking his temperature all day and all night. It just didn't go

down. I came in at 5 (EDT)  this morning and he had green mucus and (his temperature

was the same). We have treated him, but we had to scratch."

Once Asiatic Boy improves, McLaughlin is looking to train him up to the

$500,000 Woodward S. (G1) for older horses going nine furlongs on September 5.

"At least we'll be able to regroup and look at the Woodward," McLaughlin

said. "It's not an injury; he's just sick. You can't control them getting sick.

It's frustrating and disappointing, but we have to worry about the things that

are in our control. We cannot worry about things that are not in our control."