Anothertwistafate withdrawn from Kentucky Derby consideration

Anothertwistafate, currently 23rd on the points list for the Kentucky Derby on May 4, will bypass the race and point for the Preakness Stakes, the second leg of the Triple Crown, on May 18 at Pimlico, trainer Blaine Wright said Tuesday.

Anothertwistafate would have needed three defections from those above him on the list by Tuesday to make the 20-horse field for the Derby. Even if he hadn't made the top 20, he could have been entered as an also-eligible, as a maximum of four horses can be also-eligibles at entry time.

But since Anothertwistafate has a free roll in the Preakness via a "Win and You're In" victory in the El Camino Real Derby, and the fact he'd be running for the third time in six weeks if he competed in the Derby, Wright said he and owner Peter Redekop decided it was more prudent to take their best shot in the Preakness.

"He's had a lot of traveling. He'd be coming back in three weeks," Wright said of Anothertwistafate, who most recently was second in the Lexington Stakes at Keeneland, which came three weeks after a runner-uip finish in the Sunland Park Derby. "We'd rather take the five weeks to the Preakness, take our best shot there.

"We'd hate to pay all that money to run in the Derby, and then if he runs bad not run in the Preakness. So we're going to defect."

Anothertwistafate is currently at Churchill Downs, but Wright said he would fly back to his base at Golden Gate Fields on Wednesday to prepare for the Preakness.

"It just didn't work out to get into the Derby. So we're going to call an audible," Wright said.