McKinzie, Justify to go separate ways

McKinzie will remain at Santa Anita for the Santa Anita Derby on April 7, while Justify will go to Oaklawn for the Arkansas Derby on April 14, trainer Bob Baffert said Friday.

Baffert is known to call audibles, but on Friday he said “as of today” that was the plan with his two highly regarded Kentucky Derby prospects.

McKinzie was disqualified from victory in the San Felipe Stakes on March 10 in favor of Bolt d’Oro. The Santa Anita Derby thus sets up as a rematch between those two, since Bolt d’Oro is also intended for the Santa Anita Derby.

:: ROAD TO THE KENTUCKY DERBY: Prep races, point standings, replays

Justify won an allowance race last Sunday at Santa Anita for his second victory in as many starts. The Arkansas Derby would be his first stakes race, and his lone opportunity to earn enough points to run in the Kentucky Derby on May 5.

With these two running on different days, jockey Mike Smith will likely have the opportunity to ride both one more time before potentially having to make the difficult choice of which one to ride in the Derby.