The Kentucky Derby will be down an entrant on Saturday. Rodriguez, one of the top horses in the field, will not be competing after his owners decided to pull him out of prestigious Derby.
Tom Ryan, a managing partner of one of the several companies that owns Rodriguez, wrote in an online statement on Thursday that Rodriguez had been scratched from competition due to a foot bruise. Ryan said that the move was done "out of an abundance of caution," and that they would aim to have Rodriguez ready for the Preakness Stakes later this month.
Rodriguez, who was set to compete in the fourth spot, had 12-1 odds — tied for fourth best in the field.
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 is one of two horses in the field tied to decorated and controversial trainer Bob 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, and the horse was stripped of its win.
With Rodriguez scratched, Baffert will still have another horse in the competition: Citizen Bull, who is in the first spot at 20-1 odds.
