Skinner, with elevated temperature, is 4th horse scratched from Kentucky Derby 2023 field

The field for Saturday’s Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs has lost another contender.

Skinner was scratched from the race Friday morning due to an elevated temperature, according to a news release from Churchill Downs.

The John Shirreffs-trained Skinner is the fourth scratch from the first leg of the Triple Crown in two days. Practical Move, Lord Miles and Continuar all scratched Thursday, leaving the field with just 19 horses to race Saturday at an approximate post time of 6:57 p.m.

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Continuar was scratched Thursday evening. “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,” said trainer Yoshito Yahagi, in a statement released by Churchill Downs announcing the news.

Continuar's defection allowed the third and final member of the also-eligible list — King Russell — to enter the race.

Santa Anita Derby winner Practical Move was scratched Thursday morning with a fever, and the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission and Board of Stewards announced Thursday afternoon Wood Memorial winner Lord Miles was scratched.

The latter came after the deaths of two horses earlier in the week trained by Saffie Joseph Jr., also the trainer of Lord Miles. Churchill Downs announced an indefinite suspension of Joseph because of the “unexplained sudden deaths.”

Jason Frakes: 502-582-4046; jfrakes@courier-journal.com; Twitter: @KentuckyDerbyCJ.