Coliseum switches barns, targeting Oaklawn Park return

One-time Kentucky Derby hopeful Coliseum has moved to the Brad Cox barn after starting his career based in southern California with Bob Baffert.

A Godolphin homebred, Coliseum hasn’t run since a third-place finish as the odds-on favorite in the San Vicente Stakes (G2) for 3-year-olds last February at Santa Anita.

Cox said the son of Tapit, gelded since his last appearance, is scheduled to race at the current Oaklawn Park meet.

“It will be a little bit before he breezes, but the goal is to run here,” Cox said.

Coliseum has reason to improve after the gelding. While he ran off to a 6 3/4-length debut win at Del Mar that put him on lists for last year's Derby, Coliseum missed the break in his stakes debut, the Sham (G3), en route to finishing sixth.

Calling Coliseum a "headcase," Baffert outfitted him with new equipment for the San Vicente, with a Citation bit designed to give his rider more control. He hit the board but never threatened to win.

Coliseum appeared on the comeback for Baffert, putting together a steady work tab from last July through mid-September before scratched from a start at Los Alamitos. He breezed once more on Dec. 15 before the barn switch.