Trainer Bob Baffert said Tuesday morning that he was “leaning against”
running Rebel S. (Grade 2) winner The Factor from the May 7 Kentucky Derby
(Grade 1), and co-owner George Bolton made it official in late morning that The
Factor would not run.
“It’s too much too quick,” Botlon said via telephone. “We don’t want to run a
horse that isn’t right. He’s basically miler pedigree that is good enough to go
further.
“The right thing for The Factor is to wait and go either to Preakness (S.
[Grade 1]), Met Mile (Grade 1), Woody Stephens (S. [Grade 2]) or something like
that.”
The Factor galloped on Tuesday during a break in the rain that has pelted
Churchill Downs for days, but Baffert cancelled a planned workout for the colt
on Wednesday. Baffert said his “gut feeling” was telling to pass on the 1
1/4-mile classic.
“We don’t want to rush him into it and pay for it down the road, because he’s
such a good horse,” he said. “I have a feeling that if I did run him in the
Derby, I’d have a chance of ruining him.”
Baffert also revealed that The Factor had undergone a minor throat surgery on
the day after his April 19 arrival at Churchill Downs. The issue surfaced when
the colt displaced his soft palate during the running of the Arkansas Derby
(Grade 1) on April 16 at Oaklawn Park. The Factor finished seventh that day, an
effort that led to the decision to perform a myectomy.
“That’s why I did it (the surgery),” Baffert said. “(Veterinarian) Dr. (Mark)
Cheney looked at him and said it would be good for him because he was displacing
really easy.”
“We did the right thing today,” Bolton said. “Bob and I talked and we said
get out today, give our spot to someone else who can work a horse and get ready
for it, and we’re doing the right thing to announce it now and not wait.”
The defection of The Factor leaves
Midnight Interlude as Baffert’s lone starter in the Kentucky Derby. Jockey Martin Garcia was aboard the
winner of the Santa Anita Derby (Grade 1) who worked six furlongs in company
with older stablemate Mythical Power in 1:13 4/5. The track was good for the workout that
came during the 15-minute Derby/Oaks training period after the break for track
maintenance.
Midnight Interlude’s workmate is a veteran
five-year-old stakes winner who
has earned $812,840 in his career, and Baffert said Mythical Power, who is
scheduled to run in the Churchill Downs S. (Grade 2) on Derby Day, gave Midnight Interlude the stiff challenge needed in the work. He said
Midnight Interlude hesitated a bit when Mythical Power accelerated at
the start of the work, but the three-year-old responded well, drew even halfway
through the work and then battled his workmate to the finish line.
“It was actually a good work for him because he got something out of
it,” Baffert said. “That’s what I wanted, because he’s a big, heavy horse.”
Midnight Interlude started a length back of Mythical Power and drew even
with his veteran workmate at the wire. He was timed in fractional splits of
:12 2/5, :24 3/5, :36 2/5; :48 3/5 and 1:00 3/5. He galloped out seven furlongs in
1:27 4/5.
John O’Hara, racing manager for Gem
Inc. (Dr. John Waken), said Tuesday morning that J P’s Gusto, who ran eighth in the Arkansas Derby in his most recent start, would
pass on a start in the Kentucky Derby.
O’Hara said J P’s Gusto would leave the Central Kentucky farm where he
has been stabled for the past week today for New York where he would join the
barn of trainer Mike Hushion.
Tuesday’s pair of defections moved
Shackleford and Twinspired into the
19th and 20th spots, respectively, in the prospective field for
the Kentucky Derby.
The runner-up in the Blue Grass S. (Grade 1), Twinspired has graded stakes earnings
of $197,500 and, if all goes well, the gray will give
trainer Mike Maker at least one starter in the Kentucky Derby for the second
consecutive year.
“I can’t say I’m surprised,” Maker said.
“But it’s obviously better that we get in now rather than waiting another week
and having everyone on pins and needles.”
Twinspired galloped a mile and a half under Derrick Smith at the
Trackside Training Center Tuesday.
Maker said Twinspired would work Saturday at Trackside. He said the
time of the work would be determined by the weather.
Trainer
Eoin Harty booked a flight from California to Louisville on Tuesday for
Anthony’s Cross in hopes that
his colt might find a way into the field for the Derby.
Fifth
in the Santa Anita Derby and the
winner of the Robert B. Lewis S. (Grade 2) at Santa Anita, Anthony’s Cross now ranks 21st on the list
of graded stakes earnings that determines the ultimate field for the big race on
the first Saturday in May. Anthony’s Cross has $183,000 in graded earnings and
two victories in seven career starts.
“If my horse is doing good and we stay at 21, which we probably will, I
will be there,” Harty said by telephone.
Anthony’s Cross has a win over the track at Churchill Downs. He scored
his first victory in his fourth attempt in a 1 1/16-mile maiden race on November 4.
“I’m hoping he doesn’t have distance limitations, he’s already won over
the racetrack and he’s beaten some pretty good horses in the past,” Harty
said. “I like him as well as anybody in the race. With the exception of Nick
Zito’s horse (Dialed In), it’s a crapshoot, isn’t it?”
Harty does not have jockey lined up to ride Anthony’s Cross should he
make the Derby field.
The defections also opened the door
slightly to Kentucky Derby participation by Derby Kitten,
winner of last week’s Lexington S. (Grade 3) at Keeneland. Maker said the
son of Kitten’s Joy would run if further defections move him into the Kentucky
Derby field.
Derby Kitten has $120,000 in graded stakes earnings and now sits in the
22nd spot on the earnings list.