Report: Solomini 'off his form,' getting a break in Kentucky

Third last out in a field of six in Santa Anita Park's Grade 3 Affirmed Stakes, Solomini is receiving time off, trainer Bob Baffert told the Daily Racing Form's Steve Andersen.

"He went off his form," Baffert said, and so the trainer sent the son of Curlin to Coolmore's Ashford Stud in Lexington, Ky.

While Solomini runs in Zayat Stables' colors, Coolmore bought into the colt before he started his 3-year-old campaign that also included a runner-up finish in the Rebel Stakes (G2), third in the Arkansas Derby (G1) and 10th in the Kentucky Derby.

Going back to his 2-year-old season, Solomini was second to Good Magic in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile and then beat both McKinzie and Instilled Regard to the wire in the Los Alamitos Futurity (G1). Stewards disqualified Solomini to third for bumping in the stretch.

A return to California put Solomini on track to perhaps make a start in the upcoming Los Alamitos Derby (G3). Instead, per DRF, Ax Man will get that chance from the Baffert barn, which won the race last year with West Coast.