LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Two horses won’t run in the Kentucky Derby Saturday. 

Late Thursday, the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission, Board of Stewards, announced all horses trained by Saffie Joseph, Jr. are scratched effective immediately. Joseph trains Derby contender Lord Miles.

Joseph also trained two of the four horses who died at Churchill Downs. Parents Pride died Saturday, April 29 and Chasing Artie died Tuesday, May 2. Both horses died suddenly and the causes of their deaths haven’t been determined.

Shortly after the KHRC announcement, Churchill Downs announced it was suspending Joseph indefinitely. The suspension means Joseph, and any trainer employed “directly or indirectly” by Joseph cannot enter any horses at any Churchill Downs Incorporated tracks.

“Given the unexplained sudden deaths, we have reasonable concerns about the condition of his horses, and decided to suspend him indefinitely until details are analyzed and understood,” said Bill Mudd, President and Chief Operating Officer of CDI. “The safety of our equine and human athletes and integrity of our sport is our highest priority. We feel these measures are our duty and responsibility.”

The KHRC said, “For the betterment of racing, the health and welfare of our equine athletes, and the safety of our jockeys, all horses trained by trainer Saffie Joseph, Jr. are scratched effective immediately and until further notice. This action is taken after consultation with Mr. Joseph, and includes Lord Miles who was entered into the 149th running of the Kentucky Derby.”

Ray Perry, Secretary of the Public Protection Cabinet and Jonathan Rabinowitz, chairman of the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission, issued a joint statement that said, “Kentucky is committed to being the global leader in safety and integrity of horse racing. We fully support the stewards’ actions today to ensure the safety of our equine and human athletes while an investigation is ongoing into the unusual circumstances surrounding these tragic fatalities.”

Lord Miles elimination means Mandarin Hero of Japan enters the Derby. Owned by Hiroaki Arai and trained by Terunobu Fujita, the morning line odds on the horse were 20-1. As of late Thursday, the odds were 62-1.

Santa Anita winner, Practical Move, scratched because of an elevated temperature. The horse galloped Thursday morning and practiced standing in the starting gate.

Trainer Tim Yakateen said the horse’s temperature started going up around 11 a.m. The colt was co-fourth choice with 10-1 odds.