Brisset 'not 100% happy' with Tarantino, skips Blue Grass

Rodolphe Brisset has abandoned his plan to wheel Tarantino back in Grade 2 Blue Grass Stakes on Saturday, a week after he stumbled at the start of the Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3).

Brisset told HRN Tuesday, "I got on him this morning, and I was not 100 percent happy with the way he was moving."

He said the Pioneerof the Nile colt is "sound," but that "one of his glutes was a little tender."

There is "no reason to push it. Horse first. so I just talked with the ownership and I just decided not to train."

This latest development means back-to-back disappointments for team Tarantino after his performance in the Jeff Ruby. (Read more on that here.) Plus, the Blue Grass offered his only plausible chance to earn a slot in the Kentucky Derby. He has nine qualifying points from his runner-up effort in the Holy Bull (G3) and fourth-place finish in the Fountain of Youth (G2).

"What happened last Saturday was obviously not the plan," Brisset said. "We were just trying to see if we can give a chance to ask to qualify on his own. But obviously it was not meant to be.

"We know we have a quality, talented horse – I don't know if he's talented enough to win the Derby but we know he has some talent. … Yesterday was just fine and that was his first day back since the race on Saturday in tough way, and I just didn't like the way he was walking around the grounds. … Maybe he pulled something, I don't know. I was not happy enough to enter."

Brisset noted that Tarantino has "run three times this winter – or four, three and a half, I guess. … He's been on since the summer, since California," when the colt broke his maiden on first try at Del Mar on Sept. 7.

Tarantino is owned by SF Racing LLC, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables LLC, Stonestreet Stables LLC, Golconda Stable, Siena Farm LLC and Robert E. Masterson.

Brisset said he hasn't talked with them yet, but "I'm sure we will regroup. We'll give him a couple easy days and then map something in the next couple of weeks. But obviously, it's going to be (Tarantino) telling us what to do.