Lord Miles will not run in the Kentucky Derby on Saturday after Churchill Downs Inc. suspended the colt’s trainer, Saffie Joseph Jr., on Thursday.

The indefinite suspension followed what a press release from the track described as the “highly unusual sudden deaths” of two horses trained by Joseph. Parents Pride on Saturday and Chasing Artie on Tuesday died at Churchill Downs, and the causes of those deaths have not been determined.

“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, the president and chief operating officer of Churchill Downs. “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 announcement of the suspension came shortly after Joseph agreed to scratch the horses he had entered at Churchill Downs this week, the Daily Racing Form reported.

“It crushes you,” Joseph told ESPN about the horse deaths. “It knocks your confidence. It makes you doubt everything.

“There’s two ways: You can run away from it and pretend it didn’t happen or you could face it and find out what we can do.”

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Lord Miles had come to the Kentucky Derby as the winner of the Wood Memorial on April 8, where the colt beat Kentucky Derby entrant Hit Show as a 59-1 long shot.

Two other horses were euthanized last week because of injuries suffered at Churchill Downs, including Wild On Ice, which had qualified for the Kentucky Derby field.

Lord Miles was the second Kentucky Derby entrant scratched on Thursday. Santa Anita Derby winner Practical Move will not run on Saturday because of a fever.

While Lord Miles was a long shot at 30-1 in the morning-line odds, Practical Move was at 10-1 for the Kentucky Derby.

The Kentucky Derby still will have a 20-horse field on Saturday. Cyclone Mischief replaced Practical Move, and Mandarin Hero will run in Lord Miles’ spot.

Post time for the Kentucky Derby is scheduled for 5:57 p.m. CDT Saturday. NBC will televise the 149th Run for the Roses.

Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.