That much-anticipated rematch between Bolt d’Oro and McKinzie in next Saturday’s $1 million Santa Anita Derby is now just a pipe dream.
Trainer Bob Baffert, who was in Dubai on Saturday to saddle West Coast and Mubtaahij in the $10 million Dubai World Cup, told The Blood-Horse that McKinzie has a problem in one of his hind legs that popped up a couple of days ago and he’s definitely out of the Santa Anita Derby, a race that has produced 17 Kentucky Derby winners.
X-rays and scans have not identified the problem, according to Baffert.
“There was an issue and then he was fine the next day,” Baffert said. “He was sound. He’s not going to make the Santa Anita Derby. He’s definitely out.”
Baffert said something “came high” on one of McKinzie’s nuclear scans.
“But when he came back, he 100 percent jogged fine,” Baffert said. “I don’t know what it was, but we’re being very cautious.”
McKinzie and Bolt d’Oro staged a race for the ages in the Grade II San Felipe Stakes on March 10 at Santa Anita. McKinzie won their stretch-long duel by a head, but he was disqualified for interference in the stretch, giving Bolt d’Oro the victory.
Bolt d’Oro and McKinzie have been 1-2 on many Kentucky Derby lists most of the year, but the news about McKinzie may change the thinking only five weeks out from the Run for the Roses on May 5.
Baffert did not say whether McKinzie is off the Kentucky Derby trail, but any hiccup this close to the race is not good.
Baffert still has the highly regarded Justify, unbeaten in two dominating starts, and the ultra-consistent Solomini as two Kentucky Derby hopefuls.
Losing McKinzie is reminiscent of last year when Baffert’s top Derby hopeful, Mastery, was injured after easily winning the San Felipe and never raced again.
Justify, who has no Derby qualifying points to date, was scheduled to try to earn his way into the Derby by running in the Grade I Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park on April 14, but now there’s a chance Baffert could call an audible and keep Justify home for the Santa Anita Derby.
“It depends on how he breezes Monday,” Baffert told the Daily Racing Form when asked if Justify might run in the Santa Anita Derby.
The Santa Anita Derby will offer 170 qualifying points for the Kentucky Derby — 100 for first, 40 for second, 20 for third and 10 for fourth.
Entries and post positions for the 81st edition of the Santa Anita Derby will be drawn Wednesday. The Derby is part of a 12-race card that will also include the $400,000 Grade I Santa Anita Oaks.
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