LOUISVILLE, Ky. _ Continuar will be scratched from Saturday’s Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs, it was announced Thursday night by his connections. In a statement put out by Churchill Downs, Yoshito Yahagi, the trainer of Continuar, said that he was not happy with the colt’s fitness level. “After evaluating the colt upon my arrival, I feel that he has not been able to reach the peak fitness required to take on a race as tough as the Kentucky Derby,” Yahagi said. “Considering the future of the horse and the fact that we cannot show the horse’s true ability in his current state, we have decided to scratch Continuar from the Kentucky Derby. I am very sorry that I cannot participate in the world’s number one horse racing festival, however I sincerely hope to return to the Derby in the future.” Continuar became the third horse scratched from the body of the Kentucky Derby field Thursday, joining Practical Move and Lord Miles. Practical Move was scratched due to a temperature, according to trainer Tim Yakteen. Lord Miles was scratched by trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. at the request of the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission, owing to the sudden deaths, for reasons yet to be determined, of Joseph's horses Parents Pride and Chasing Artie in the first two racing days of this meet. :: DRF Kentucky Derby Package: Save on PPs, Clocker Reports, Betting Strategies, and more. Continuar’s defection allows King Russell, the last of three also-eligible entrants to draw into the field, keeping the field at 20 for now. Cyclone Mischief and Manadarin Hero got in when Practical Move and Lord Miles scratched. Horses drawn outside of Practical Move (post 10), will all move in one slot. Cyclone Mischief, Mandarin Hero and King Russell will wear numbers 21, 22 and 23, respectively. Continuar earned his berth into the Kentucky Derby via the Japan Road to the Derby, which reserves a spot to the Japan-based horse who earns the most qualifying points in a series of four designated races. Continuar earned 10 points for winning the Catteleya Stakes last November and picked up 30 more for finishing third in the UAE Derby. King Russell now becomes the last horse to make it into the Derby field. Last year, Rich Strike was the last horse to get into the Derby field when there was a scratch the day before the race. Rich Strike proceeded to upset the Derby at 80-1. King Russell is coming off a second-place finish behind Angel of Empire in the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby. King Russell was based in Oaklawn all winter, making four starts at that meet. “We believe we were one of the top 3-year-olds in the country when we came up here,” Ron Moquett, trainer of King Russell said. “We’re happy to get a shot to run. We’re excited for the connections to get in and have a chance to see if he wants to run that distance like we think he does.” Rafael Bejarano will ride King Russell. :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.