Coliseum taken off Kentucky Derby trail
ARCADIA, Calif. – Coliseum’s trek down the Derby road was short-lived. Two days after his second straight odds-on defeat in a graded stakes at Santa Anita, trainer Bob Baffert confirmed Tuesday that Coliseum will be turned out and is no longer a prospect for the Kentucky Derby.
“I’m going to reboot him, kick him out for 30 days,” Baffert said. “We know he’s good, but he doesn’t want to train, he’s sour.”
Favored at 7-10 in the Grade 2 San Vicente Stakes on Sunday, Coliseum finished third by more than six lengths. “He’s better than that,” Baffert said. “He’s off the Derby (trail).”
Coliseum debuted with a splash Nov. 17 at Del Mar, where he won a seven-furlong maiden race by more than six lengths with a 91 Beyer. But in his next start Jan. 5 in the Grade 3 Sham Stakes at one mile, he broke slowly and finished sixth as the 3-5 favorite. Coliseum broke slowly in two subsequent gate works, and then misfired again in the seven-furlong San Vicente.
A son of Tapit owned and bred by Godolphin, Coliseum was heavily bet in first Kentucky Derby Future Wager offered by Churchill Downs. When wagering closed Nov. 25, Coliseum was second favorite among individual horses at 10-1.
