Rodriguez scratched from Kentucky Derby 2025: Baeza to run for roses at Churchill Downs
Bob Baffert trainee Rodriguez has been scratched from Saturday’s Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs because of a foot bruise, co-owner Tom Ryan announced via X on Thursday afternoon.
“Out of an abundance of caution, we have made a very tough decision to scratch our Derby horse, Rodriguez,” Ryan wrote on X. 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.”
Rodriguez won the Grade 2 Wood Memorial on April 5 at Aqueduct and was considered to be among the pace-setters for the Kentucky Derby.
Baffert still has one Kentucky Derby horse in 2-year-old champion Citizen Bull.
The defection of Rodriguez means Baeza — the runner-up in the Santa Anita Derby on April 5 — will move into the field for the Run for the Roses on Saturday at Churchill Downs. Post time is set for 7:02 p.m. The race will be televised by NBC.
Baeza was the lone horse on the also-eligible list for the Kentucky Derby. The late-developing colt broke his maiden Feb. 14 and then briefly took the lead in the Santa Anita Derby before finishing as the runner-up, three-quarters of a length behind Journalism — the 3-1 morning-line favorite for Derby 151.
“I thought he ran a remarkable race,” trainer John Shirreffs said. “He went wide most of the way. Coming out of the turn into the stretch, he was lugging in a little bit. Once he changed leads, he took off again. Being green and knowing he can do better, it was a really good race.”
Because the Santa Anita Derby had only five runners, Baeza earned just 37.5 qualifying points toward the Kentucky Derby instead of the typical allotment of 50.
Shirreffs won the Run for the Roses with 50-1 shot Giacomo in 2005.
Flavien Prat, previously on Neoequos, will now have the ride on Baeza. Luis Saez will ride Neoequos.
Jason Frakes: 502-582-4046; jfrakes@courier-journal.com. Follow on X @KentuckyDerbyCJ.
