Post Position Leads Baffert To Scratch Medina Spirit From Pennsylvania Derby

Medina Spirit has been withdrawn from Saturday's Grade 1 Pennsylvania Derby at Parx Racing, owing to his outside post position, trainer Bob Baffert told the Albany Times Union's Tim Wilkin on Tuesday.

The son of Protonico drew the ninth post in a 10-horse field.

Baffert will also scratch Grade 3 winner Private Mission from the G1 Cotillion Stakes on the same card, and point her toward the G2 Zenyatta Stakes at Santa Anita Park on Oct. 3.

“I don't like to put them on a plane unless I feel real good about it,” Baffert told Wilkin. “Medina looks good, I just don't like the way the race was setting up. I feel part of my success is knowing when to run and doing what's right for the horse.”

The Pennsylvania Derby would have been Medina Spirit's second race back from a summer layoff, following a win in the Shared Belief Stakes at Del Mar on Aug. 29. Prior to his three-month break, Medina Spirit won the Kentucky Derby from the #8 post, then finished third in the Preakness Stakes.

Baffert said Medina Spirit would be redirected to face older competition in the G1 Awesome Again Stakes at Santa Anita on Oct. 2. If he performs well in the prep race, he will be pointed toward the Breeders' Cup.

Medina Spirit was installed as the 2-to-1 morning line favorite for the Pennsylvania Derby. In his absence, favoritism will likely fall on Hot Rod Charlie, a multiple classic-placed Grade 2 winner who most recently finished first in the Grade 1 Haskell Stakes at Monmouth Park, but was disqualified to last for his role in unseating the rider from Midnight Bourbon, who he will face again on Saturday at Parx.

 

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