The Kentucky Derby lost a Bob Baffert-trained horse for Saturday’s race.
Rodriguez, which opened at 12-1, will not be competing after his team decided to pull him out of prestigious Derby.
Tom Ryan, a managing partner of one of the several companies that own Rodriguez, wrote in a statement Thursday that Rodriguez had been scratched from competition due to a foot bruise. Ryan said the move was done “out of an abundance of caution,” and the team would aim to have Rodriguez ready for the Preakness Stakes later this month.
Out of an abundance of caution, we have made a very tough decision to scratch our Derby horse, Rodriguez. 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.
— Tom Ryan (@TomRyanKY) May 1, 2025
Rodriguez was one of two horses in the field trained by the decorated and controversial Baffert, who is returning to the Derby after serving a three-year suspension. In 2021, Baffert’s horse, Medina Spirit, tested positive for a banned steroid after winning the Derby and was stripped of the win.
Rodriguez was set to run in the No. 4 position but will now be replace by 50-1 long shot Baeza, who’s trained by John A. Shirreffs.
With Rodriguez scratched, Baffert will still have Citizen Bull in the No. 1 position at 20-1 odds.
Journalism, trained by Michael W. McCarthy, is the odds-on favorite at the Derby with 3-1 odds. Behind him is Sovereignty at 5-1, Sandman at 6-1 and Grande at 10-1.
