Rodriquez, the Grade 2 Wood Memorial winner who was one of the two colts bringing trainer Bob Baffert back to the Kentucky Derby, was scratched Thursday because of a bruise to his right front foot.
Baeza, the Santa Anita Derby (G1) runner-up who needed one dropout before Friday at 9 a.m. EDT in order to get off the also-eligible list, drew into the starting gate. Still no. 21 in the program, he will break from post 20.
Rodríguez’s bruise was discovered after a Sunday breeze at Churchill Downs. When it did not heal to the connections’ satisfaction, Ryan said they decided to hit the brakes and prepare the 3-year-old Authentic colt for the May 17 running of the Preakness.
Baeza, who was made a 12-1 shot on the morning line, has been training in earnest for the Derby, having been shipped from Santa Anita to Churchill Downs last week. He breezed Monday while his connections were forced to hurry up and wait until the Churchill Downs vice president of racing notified them Thursday afternoon.
Flavien Prat will ride Baeza, his first preference for the Derby. He had been named to ride third-place Florida Derby (G1) finisher Neoequos. Trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. said Luis Sáez takes over on Neoequos. Sáez had been left without a ride when Florida Derby winner Tappan Street got hurt last week. Mike Smith, who would have been on Rodríguez, no longer has a ride.
Baeza, a maiden winner who has raced four times, will try to follow the path to victory that worked three years ago. That was when Rich Strike drew in late, got stuck in post 20 and pulled off an 80-1 upset.
