The Factor ruled out of Kentucky Derby

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.