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Fields in 151st Edition Kentucky Derby By Friday, two horses, including one colt trained by legendary trainer Bob Baffert, had been reduced to 19 after being injured with potential complications.
Wood Memorial winner Rodriguez was injured on Thursday for hurting his leg and instead was on the sidelines until Game 2 Triple Crown, I’m betting on Preakness on May 17th.
Kentucky Derby attendee Rodriguez is exercising in Churchill Downs on Thursday, May 1, 2025 in Louisville, Kentucky. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
“From the abundant attention we made the very tough decision to hook Derby horse Rodriguez.
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“He has a small but slightly sensitive leg bruise that requires a few more days. So we’ve reset our plans and target him for preakness.”
Rodriguez was one of two horses trained by Buffart to compete in the Kentucky Derby on Saturday. The Hall of Fame trainer is back at Churchill Downs for the first time since Medina Spirit’s Kentucky Derby victory in 2021. This is the title that was later stripped for a positive drug test that would result in a three-year suspension for Baffert.
Trainer Bob Buffert collected the trophies after winning the Kentucky Derby’s 147th run at the Medina Spirit, the Kentucky Derby’s seventh Kentucky Derby victory at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky on May 1, 2021. (Andy Lions/Getty Images)
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“That was an honest mistake,” Baffert said in an interview with Sitdown. “Fox & Friends” Friday morning. “The test levels are now very low… it was in the ointment and I didn’t notice it was being used by humans until about 48 hours. He had a terrible skin rash.”
“We were fighting for the horse,” Baffert said of the legal battle that followed after the Medina Spirit title was stripped of. He said that fallout would never deny a positive drug test denial. “He got that victory.”
Jon Velazquez, who is riding on Medina Spirit, will cross the finish line to win his 147th Kentucky Derby run at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky on May 1, 2021. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson, File)
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Baffert still has horses in the race as he pursues his record seventh victory in the Kentucky Derby that he temporarily held in 2021.
Baeza went into the 20-horse field in place of Rodriguez, but the field was reduced to 19 after being scratched with a cracked heel on Friday.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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