Roadster joins Instagrand on sidelines

ARCADIA, Calif. – Roadster became the second major defection from the 2-year-old division Tuesday morning at Santa Anita.

Trainer Bob Baffert said Roadster, impressive debut winner before he finished third as the favorite in the Grade 1 Del Mar Futurity on Sept. 3, will be out of training for 60 days. “No Breeders’ Cup for Roadster,” Baffert said. “He’s not going to run for a while.”

The defection of Roadster followed news that undefeated 2-year-old Instagrand will miss the remainder of the season. Instagrand and Roadster were the two favorites in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Future Wager that closed Sept. 2. Instagrand was 7-2; Roadster was 6.80-1 second choice.

Roadster, a $525,000 yearling by Quality Road, scored a sharp debut victory July 29 at Del Mar, and was odds-on Sept. 3 in the Futurity. Roadster finished two lengths behind the Baffert-trained Futurity winner Game Winner. Baffert said Roadster displaced his palate.

“I’m just giving [Roadster] a little break,” Baffert said. “He’s going to get a 60-day break.”

Baffert plans to run Game Winner and debut winner Tale of the Union in the Grade 1 American Pharoah Stakes on Sept. 29. Del Mar Futurity runner-up Rowayton and maiden winner Gunmetal Gray, both trained by Jerry Hollendorfer, also are expected to run in the mile and a sixteenth race.