LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The waiting is the hardest part. The connections of Baeza will be waiting to hear if there is a defection from the Kentucky Derby between now and scratch time – 9 a.m. Friday – to learn if their horse gets to run in the $5 million classic at Churchill Downs. Runner-up to Kentucky Derby favorite Journalism in the Santa Anita Derby on April 5, Baeza’s 37.5 qualifying points earned in that race were not enough to get into the body of the field by entry time Saturday. The Santa Anita Derby only had five horses in it. A new wrinkle in the points system lowered the number of points awarded in fields of five or fewer in qualifying races. Had six or more horses run, Baeza would have earned 50 points and would be in the body of the field. In each of the last six years, there have been scratches from the Kentucky Derby after the race has been drawn, many of them from the regulatory veterinarians who stringently examine the horses each morning. In 2018, there were five scratches from the Derby. “Racing has a lot of ups and downs and a lot of surprises,” said John Shirreffs, trainer of Baeza. “We are not eliminated yet, but like they say, hope springs eternal.” Shirreffs is preparing Baeza like he will get into the race. On Monday at Churchill, Baeza, a half-brother to 2023 Derby winner Mage and 2024 Belmont winner Dornoch, worked five furlongs in 1:02.25, after going his first three furlongs in 38.25 seconds, according to Daily Racing Form clocker Mike Welsch. Flavien Prat, who would ride Baeza if he gets in, was aboard the horse for the work, which Shirreffs thought was going to be faster.   “Prat said after the work maybe he should have gotten away from the pony a little sooner and gotten him into a better gallop,” Shirreffs said. “Obviously, he went off really slow, but he looked really nice coming down the lane. We did enough to feel good about it.” As an observer, Prat and his agent, Brad Pegram, felt good about not committing to other horses with the hopes of getting on Baeza. “My agent and I thought he was a very good horse, we didn’t want to commit to anybody else,” Prat said. “We were willing to take the risk, so we’ll see what happens. We think he’s a good horse, that’s why we want to ride.” In speaking of Monday’s workout, Prat said, “he left the pole nice and easy and he picked it up nice and he was moving good. First time I ever sat on him, mostly just to get a feel of him.” If Baeza does not get in, Prat will ride Neoequos, the Florida Derby third-place finisher, in the Kentucky Derby. If Baeza does get into the race, he will most likely break from post 20. Rich Strike drew into the 2023 Derby the day before the race and won from post 20. In 2019, Country House drew post 20 but ultimately broke from post 18 after a pair of scratches. Big Brown also won the 2008 Derby from post 20. Prat rode Country House, who crossed the wire second but was elevated to first with the disqualification of Maximum Security for interference around the far turn. “Probably one of the smoothest trips I ever had in the Derby where you can just take your time and let the race unfold where if you’re inside you have to commit to what you want to do,” Prat said of Country House breaking from the outside. :: KENTUCKY DERBY 2025: Top contenders, odds, point standings, news, and more As far as the next few days go, Shirreffs said he’s not going to fret over whether the horse gets into the Derby. The May 17 Preakness Stakes would become Plan B. “Can’t really think too much about getting in or not getting in because right now it’s about the daily care of the horse,” Shirreffs said. Baffert keeping blinkers on Citizen Bull On April 18, Citizen Bull worked without blinkers, starting five lengths behind a horse and passing him at the wire. Afterward, trainer Bob Baffert indicated he would be removing blinkers from the 2-year-old champion male’s equipment for the Kentucky Derby. That is no longer the case. And not just because Citizen Bull drew the rail for the Kentucky Derby. “It was okay, but I didn’t like it,” Baffert said Monday about the April 18 work. “That’s not him. He wants to be out there. His weapon is his speed, we’re not going to take it away from him. If he goes too fast, well that’s the way it is.” On Monday at Churchill Downs, Citizen Bull, equipped with blinkers, worked a fast five furlongs in 58.47 seconds under jockey Martin Garcia. It was his fourth work in 16 days. “He did it effortlessly,” Baffert said. “He’s just a fast horse.” ◗ Coal Battle, the Rebel winner, worked three furlongs in 36.29 seconds for trainer Lonnie Briley. :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.