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Kentucky Derby Contender Scratched Before Saturday's Race

Originally posted on The Spun | By Andrew Gould | Last updated May 1, 2025 9:22 PM ET

The Kentucky Derby field witnessed a notable change on Thursday.

SF Racing manager Tom Ryan announced that Rodriguez will no longer compete in Saturday's race due to a foot injury. He hopes the horse can return for the Preakness Stakes on May 17.

"Out of an abundance of caution, we have made a very tough decision to scratch our Derby horse, Rodriguez," Ryan wrote on social media. "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."

Before the scratch, Rodriguez had 12-1 odds to win the opening leg of the Triple Crown from the fourth position. Journalism (3-1), Sovereignty (5-1), and Sandman (6-1) are the only stronger favorites of the 20 entrants at Churchill Downs.

Last month, Rodriguez won the Wood Memorial Stakes in Queens, New York. The horse has finished no worse than third in five career starts.

LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY - MAY 01: Medina Spirit #8, ridden by jockey John Velazquez, leads the field around the first during the 147th running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on May 01, 2021 in Louisville, Kentucky. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)

Rodriguez represented one of two Kentucky Derby entrants trained by Bob Baffert. The Hall of Famer returns to the prestigious race following a three-year suspension stemming from Medina Spirit failing a drug test after a 2021 win.

Baffert will hinge his hopes of notching a record-setting seventh Kentucky Derby win behind Citizen Bull, who starts from the first gate at 20-1 odds. Citizen Bull followed three consecutive victories by finishing fourth at the Santa Anita Derby, won by Journalism, on April 5.

In Rodriguez's place, Santa Anita runner-up Baeza will enter the Kentucky Derby from the No. 21 post position. The other entrants will move up one gate, placing the John A. Shirreffs-trained substitute on the outside.

The 151st running of the Kentucky Derby has a post time of 6:57 p.m. ET this Saturday on NBC.

This article first appeared on The Spun and was syndicated with permission.

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