Behindatthebar, winner of the Lexington Stakes and trained by Todd Pletcher, became the latest 3-year-old to have his sights set on the May 17 Preakness at Pimlico Race Course.
Pletcher said yesterday that after a talk with Satish and Sasha Sanan, who own the horse in partnership with Michael Shustek and Don Stanley, it was decided not to race the colt in Saturday's Kentucky Derby.
"I spoke with Satish and Sasha Sanan, and we all thought 16 days between two races was a lot of pressure to put on the horse," Pletcher said. "If he'd gone to the Derby, it would have been three races in 30 days. In all fairness to the horse, who I believe has incredible potential, we will continue to go the classic route by pointing toward the Preakness."
Behindatthebar, a son of Forest Wildcat, joins Kentucky Bear, Yankee Bravo and Tres Borrachos as 3-year-olds whose trainers have indicated to the Pimlico's Racing Office that they intend to run in the Preakness, barring unforeseen circumstances.
SANDRA MCKEE
Kentucky Derby -- Calvin Borel's chance to become the first jockey to win consecutive Kentucky Derbys in 25 years lives on. When Pletcher decided to have Behindatthebar skip the Derby, it opened the door for Borel's ride, Denis of Cork. Behindatthebar was 17th on the graded-stakes earnings list, which determines who runs in the race if more than 20 are entered. Denis of Cork, which ran fifth in the Illinois Derby, was 21st. The move means Borel, who rode Street Sense to victory in May, has a shot at becoming the first jockey since Eddie Delahoussaye in 1982 and 1983 to win two straight Derbys. Denis of Cork, who won his first three races before his only defeat, would be trainer David Carroll's first Derby starter.
Simulcasting -- MidAtlantic Cooperative LLC, the simulcast purchasing enterprise that represents 16 regional racetracks, including Rosecroft Raceway in Fort Washington, has been unable to reach a new simulcast agreement with New York Racing Association Inc. Beginning tomorrow, MidAtlantic Cooperative members will not simulcast NYRA racing from Belmont Park. The change will not affect the simulcast of the Belmont Stakes, for which a separate agreement has been reached.