Bob Baffert scratches one of his horses from Kentucky Derby 151
Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert is gearing up to make his return to Churchill Downs on Saturday for Kentucky Derby 151, but he'll only have one horse in the race now.
Baffert scratched his horse Rodriguez, which was in the No. 4 post position at 12-1 odds.
"Out of an abundance of caution, we have made a very tough decision to scratch our Derby horse, Rodriguez," said Tom Ryan, managing partner of SF Racing with Team Baffert. "He has a small but slightly sensitive foot bruise that will need a few more days. Therefore, we are resetting our plans and will target him for the Preakness."
Drawing into the field is Baeza in place of Rodriguez. Trained by John A. Shirreffs, Baeza will start in the No. 21 post position.
"I just felt like we needed a few more days. It has to be perfect. You have to be 100 percent. You can't relax until you put the saddle on them," Baffert said.
Baffert still has another horse set to line up for the 151st Derby on Saturday, with Citizen Bull in the No. 1 post position.
This will be Baffert's first Kentucky Derby after a three-year suspension following Medina Spirit's win in 2021. Medina Spirit failed a drug test following the Derby win in 2021.