Pletcher's Behindatthebar to skip the Kentucky Derby

Pletcher's Behindatthebar to skip the Kentucky Derby Behindatthebar will not run in the 2008 Kentucky Derby, trainer Todd Pletcher announced today. Behindatthebar, the winner of the Lexington Stakes at Keeneland on April 19th, after an impressive four-length victory at Santa Anita on April 3rd, was 17th on the Derby's graded-stakes earnings list, which determines who runs in the race if more than 20 are entered. "We all thought 16 days between two races was a lot of pressure to put on a horse. If he had gone to the Derby, it would have been three races in 30 days," Todd Pletcher said on Monday, after discussing the plan with Behindatthebar's owners Satish and Sasha Sanan. The withdrawal of Behindatthebar from the 2008 Kentucky Derby opens the door for 21st-rated Denis the Cork to reach the 20-horse field. Behindatthebar will be racing in the second leg of the Triple Crown, the Preakness Stakes.

Todd Pletcher, however, still has two three-year-olds for the Derby - Blue Grass winner Monba and runner-up Cowboy Cal. At the online sportsbook BodogSports, Monba is currently listed with 20/1 odds to win the 2008 Kentucky Derby, while Cowboy Cal is trailing with 40/1. At the racebook Big Brown is still the 2008 Kentucky Derby favorite with odds 5/2, followed by Colonel John with odds 9/2 on winning the Kentucky Derby.

Published on 04/29/2008