Baffert Might Not Have Starter

Last Saturday, trainer Bob Baffert seemed to be in the driver’s seat for the Kentucky Derby. Trying to win the race for the third straight year, he ran three horses, including the favored entry of General Challenge and Excellent Meeting.

But Excellent Meeting ran fifth and General Challenge was 11th, and Baffert’s other Derby horse, Prime Timber, finished fourth as Charismatic scored a 31-1 upset. Now Baffert, who also won the last two runnings of the Preakness, with Silver Charm and Real Quiet, may not have a starter when the middle leg of the Triple Crown is run at Pimlico on May 15.

Prime Timber, Baffert said Thursday, has not done well at Churchill Downs since the Derby. He has lost weight and is doubtful for the Preakness.

Silverbulletday, winner of the Kentucky Oaks for fillies the day before the Derby, was to be Baffert’s other Preakness horse, but she may not run either. Concerned about a large field at Pimlico, where 14 horses is the limit, Baffert might run Silverbulletday in the Black-Eyed Susan, a race for fillies the day before the Preakness.

Baffert got bad news on another front. Finder’s Gold, expected to run Saturday in the Illinois Derby at Hawthorne, broke his left foreleg while training at Churchill Downs and was to undergo surgery Thursday. Finder’s Gold races for John and Betty Mabee, who also own General Challenge and Excellent Meeting.