With two contenders scratched, Baeza is in the race and faces stiff competition from Journalism, to whom he was second in the Santa Anita. Here’s what Baeza has to do.
Two talented Kentucky Derby entries, Rodriguez and Grande have been scratched from the race, leaving Grande’s trainer Todd Pletcher without a runner in the race for the first time in 21 years and halving Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert’s entries in the race, leaving him with the improving Citizen Bull in tomorrow’s running. Baffert hadn’t liked the look of Rodriguez’ right forefoot at mid-week, and his scratch of Rodriguez allowed the young, hot gunslinger Baeza, trained by John Shirreffs, into the gate.
All that commotion caused quite a different look in the 151st Kentucky Derby’s gate composition. Rodriguez had occupied the 4th stall from the rail, and Grande had drawn square into the middle of the field, in the 10-hole. As of today, May 2, that means that all horses in their original post-positions of 5-9 would be moved toward the rail by one stall (but will keep their saddle cloth numbers), and all horses in their original post positions of 11-20 will move toward the rail by two stalls, also keeping their original saddle cloths. For his part, latecomer Baeza will receive the saddle cloth number 21, but he will move in as well, to break from post position 19.
There is no further alternate (below Baeza in the point standings) that qualified according to the Churchill stewards, thus the 2025 Derby will have nineteen runners. Nota bene: Only the horses in post positions 1-3 will bear saddle cloths that match their post positions. Every other horse will have been moved in by one or two stalls, according to their position. To be clear: the saddle cloth numbers 4 (Rodriguez) and 10 (Grande) will be retired.
