Bye Bye Bobby will miss Lexington, is likely off Derby trail

Trainer Todd Fincher has decided not to point Bye Bye Bobby to the Saturday's Grade 3 Lexington at Keeneland, giving up what might have been his last chance to qualify for the 2022 Kentucky Derby.

Fincher told Horse Racing Nation on Tuesday that he wasn't sure whether the Sunland Park Derby (G3) runner-up would go on Saturday, and he said in a text message Wednesday morning that the colt is "not going in the Lexington."

Speaking to HRN for a Barn Tour feature Tuesday, Fincher said he didn't want to get specific about why the Quality Road colt might not start in the Lexington.

"We've just had some complications, some things not go right," he said. "We're looking to go, but we're not 100 percent sure. … It's nothing bad. It's just a tough decision when you run against those type of horses."

Bye Bye Bobby had 20 Derby qualifying points from his Sunland Park Derby effort, and a win in the Lexington would have given him just enough to make the cut for the May 7 race. Now he would need at least seven horses ahead of him to drop out before he could be considered.

Without Bye Bye Bobby, the Lexington is expected to include two horses who could qualify for the Derby. Tawny Port, who is on the qualifying bubble, needs a top-four finish Saturday to be assured of being in the May 7 classic. In Due Time needs to win to get in the Derby.