Trainer Bob Baffert won't run Bob and John or Point Determined in next weekend's Preakness, keeping Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro from a rematch with two of his Derby rivals.
Bob and John, who was 17th in the Derby, was the only one under consideration for the second leg of the Triple Crown, Baffert said yesterday.
Point Determined finished ninth in the Derby.
The two colts will be shipped from Kentucky's Churchill Downs back to California to prepare for the Belmont on June 10 in New York, Baffert said.
The trainer was in Texas yesterday, saddling Wanna Runner to a victory in the Lone Star Derby.
Horses confirmed for Saturday's Preakness at Pimlico are Barbaro, Brother Derek (fourth in the Derby), Sweetnorthernsaint (seventh), Like Now, Bernardini and Hemingway's Key.
Ah Day moved into the Preakness picture yesterday, although it would cost his ownership $100,000 to enter him because the colt wasn't nominated to the Triple Crown races. Ah Day has finished in the money in six starts this year, including a victory in the Tesio Stakes.
“The short field is making us consider the Preakness more strongly,” trainer King Leatherbury said. “We are handicapping the race to see if we can get a piece.”
Barbaro continued his Preakness preparations yesterday with a half-mile jog and then a 1½-mile gallop at Fair Hill Training Center, about 60 miles from Pimlico.
“Everything went well,” trainer Michael Matz said. “I'm worried about the Preakness – the smaller field, obviously Brother Derek, Sweetnorthernsaint, and the horse that won the Withers (Bernardini). It's tough to come back in two weeks.”
Elsewhere
Irish Derby champion Grey Swallow romped to a five-length victory in the $250,000 Jim Murray Memorial Handicap at Hollywood Park.
Tiger drew off to a 3½-length victory over Dark Cheetah in the $104,700 Bold Ruler Handicap at Belmont Park.
More Than Pretty rallied in the deep stretch to edge Handlewoman by a length in the $117,000 Open Mind turf race at Churchill Downs.
Contrast beat Summer Sting by 1¾ lengths in the $60,000 Red Cross Stakes, the opening-day feature of Monmouth Park's season.
