Derby News

NEW YORK _ Trainer Bob Baffert is headed East with Bob and John for the $750,000 Wood Memorial (G1) on Saturday, and his colt was installed as the 2-1 favorite in a nine-horse field for the final major Kentucky Derby prep on the East Coast. There were a few surprises when entries were drawn Thursday at Aqueduct Racetrack when Gotham Stakes (G3) winner Like Now and unbeaten Showing Up were not in the field due to minor ailments.

John Dillon's Like Now, one of several Derby hopefuls trained by Kiaran McLaughlin, spiked a fever Tuesday night and hasn't recovered sufficiently. Lael Stables' Showing Up, unbeaten in two career starts for trainer Barclay Tagg, has a bruised foot.

Neither has been ruled out of the Derby by their trainers, but the setbacks come at a crucial time - four weeks before the Run for the Roses.

Meanwhile, Bob and John travels outside California for the first time to try and earn a trip to Louisville. Owned by Bob and Janice McNair's Stonerside Stable, Bob and John finished third in the San Felipe Stakes (G2) at Santa Anita in his last start, and has three victories in eight lifetime races.

A top challenger will be Keyed Entry, one of trainer Todd Pletcher's arsenal of Derby prospects. Keyed Entry, runner-up in the Gotham, is the 5-2 second choice .

Also in the field are Tampa Bay Derby (G3) winner Deputy Glitters at 7-2, Greeley's Legacy at 6-1, Jazil at 10-1, Marco's Tale at 15-1, Scanlon's Song at 20-1 and Niagara Causeway and Platinum Couple, both at 30-1.

Owned by Starlight Stable, Paul Saylor and Donald Lucarelli, Keyed Entry won his first three starts, including the Hutcheson Stakes (G2), before losing by a neck in the Gotham.

``He seemed to handle a mile and a sixteenth fine in the Gotham,'' Pletcher said. ``He accomplished everything we hoped for except winning.''

It was a rough go in the San Felipe for Bob and John, who was bumped at the start and forced five-wide on the turn. But he still finished third, 2 ½ lengths behind A.P. Warrior, with stablemate Point Determined second.

``He had a horrible trip last time,'' Baffert, a three-time Derby winner, said. ``He got wiped out at the start by a 40-1 shot. Plus, out here in California, you have these speed-favoring tracks, so there was a lot going against him.''

Bob and John, with Garrett Gomez in the irons for the first time, drew the No. 7 post. Keyed Entry, to be ridden by Edgar Prado, leaves from the No. 3 post.

Deputy Glitters, leaving from the No. 4 post under Jose Lezcano, deserves attention after defeating Pletcher's Bluegrass Cat in the Tampa Bay Derby last month.

However, trainer Tom Albertrani said he would consider scratching his colt if the track came up sloppy. Rain was forecast for Friday and Saturday.

``I'm concerned about the weather,'' Albertrani said. ``He ran one time in the slop and he didn't seem to run very well in the Champagne. If we end up with a sloppy track Saturday, we may be out as well.''

Without speed horses Like Now and Showing Up, the complexion of the race will surely change. Will Keyed Entry, who has been learning to rate, be back on the lead? Will Deputy Glitters join him up front?

And what about closing long shots, like Niagara Causeway, a California-based turf horse with just one race on the dirt? ``With all the speed out of the race, I don't know what we'll do,'' trainer Ron Sticka said.

With Like Now out, McLaughlin will saddle Jazil, who was off the board in the Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2) on March 4. The trainer's other Derby prospect, Flashy Bull, had ``the thumps'' during the Florida Derby (G1) on April 1, a race in which he finished seventh. McLaughlin said Flashy Bull is healthy and being pointed to the Derby.

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