Once Baffert's top Kentucky Derby hopeful, McKinzie has new target

Beyond the 2018 Kentucky Derby, and the Preakness and Belmont Stakes, too, one of the 3-year-old crop’s best prospects should be waiting to challenge stars of the Triple Crown series.

Trainer Bob Baffert revealed Tuesday that McKinzie, once his top Derby prospect, is back to tack walking and targeting a return in the Grade 1 Haskell Invitational. Run this year on July 29 at Monmouth Park, the Haskell has been won a record eight times by Baffert.

McKinzie hit the wire first, but was disqualified to second in his most-recent start, going head to head with Bolt d’Oro on March 10 in the Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes. The two were to rematch in the Santa Anita Derby, but McKinzie was pulled from consideration a week out due to a “jammed” hock, a leg joint between the tarsal bones and tibia.

Baffert shifted Justify from the Arkansas Derby to Santa Anita Derby, the colt won by three lengths, and on Tuesday was named the 3-1 morning line favorite for the Kentucky Derby.

Girvin won the 2017 Haskell by a nose over McCraken during a rare year in which the race failed to attract any of the Triple Crown race winners. Baffert’s last victory in the race came in 2015 with American Pharoah.