Timberlake will not run in Kentucky Derby

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Timberlake will not advance to the Kentucky Derby following his fourth-place finish in the Grade 1, $1.5 million Arkansas Derby, trainer Brad Cox said Tuesday.

Timberlake was the favorite for last Saturday’s 1 1/8-mile Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park and set the pace to about the quarter pole before being overtaken by winner Muth. Timberlake was beaten 6 3/4 lengths and earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 88. The start came one race after Timberlake won the Grade 2 Rebel at 1 1/16 miles in February at Oaklawn.

“Based on the performance over the weekend, we are not going to run in the Kentucky Derby,” Cox said. “We are thinking about cutting him back in distance.

“He came out of it in good order, very sound, and ships back to Churchill Downs today. We still feel it’s in his best interest not to try a mile and a quarter in four and a half weeks.”

Cox said the decision was made Tuesday with owners WinStar Farm and Siena Farm.

Timberlake ranked fifth in points for the Kentucky Derby with 81. He won last year’s Grade 1 Champagne and launched his 3-year-old season in the Rebel. He is a winner of 3 of 7 starts and $1.1 million.

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