International Star a late scratch, 18 remain in 2015 Kentucky Derby

Louisiana Derby winner International Star has been scratched from the Kentucky Derby.

The news broke Saturday morning around 9:45 a.m. (ET), leaving a field of 18 for the 1 ¼-mile classic.

Twenty-two were originally entered on Wednesday, with two also-eligibles waiting to draw in, and Stanford became the first horse to be removed on Thursday, allowing Frammento to join the field.

El Kabeir was scratched Friday, but the announcement came after that morning’s 9 a.m. (ET) scratch time. As a result, the lone remaining also-eligible, Terve of Verve, was excluded.

International Star swept the three-year-old graded stakes at Fair Grounds this year, winning the Lecomte and Risen Star before the Louisiana Derby, but the Fusaichi Pegasus colt was installed at 20-1 on the morning line in the deep Kentucky Derby field.