Rodríguez will miss Preakness 2025 because of foot trouble

Because of the same foot problem that took him out of the Kentucky Derby last weekend, Rodríguez will not run in Preakness 2025 next Saturday at Pimlico.

Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert notified Preakness officials Friday that the Grade 2 Wood Memorial winner would not run in the second jewel of the Triple Crown as planned. He also said Goal Oriented will go if he looks good in a weekend workout at Santa Anita.

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The Maryland Jockey Club confirmed the exit that was reported first by Daily Racing Form.

Rodríguez was scratched from the Derby due to a minor foot bruise a week before the first leg of the Triple Crown. The son of Authentic remained at Churchill Downs to prepare for the Preakness.

Baffert and Rodríguez’s ownership group SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Stonestreet Stables, Diane Bashor, Determined Stables, Bat Masterson, Tom Ryan, Waves Edge Capital and Catherine Donovan notified Maryland Jockey Club officials Thursday of their intention to enter undefeated Goal Oriented in the Preakness Stakes.

Baffert said Friday morning that Goal Oriented’s appearance in the Preakness will hinge on a drill perhaps Sunday but that it’s so far, so good with the 2-for-2 colt who won an optional-claiming allowance race on the Kentucky Derby undercard.

“We’re going to see how he works,” Baffert said after Goal Oriented came bouncing off the track following a routine gallop. “I’ve always had (the Preakness) in the back of mind maybe. But after what I’ve seen, the way he came out of the race, he’s a big strong horse that looks like he could handle it.”

Goal Oriented is a Not This Time colt who was a $425,000 yearling purchase at Keeneland in September 2023. The SF Racing group that owns him and Rodríguez also own Citizen Bull, who finished 15th in the Kentucky Derby.

“He’s really come into himself. The race the other day, he won that with so much to spare,” said Baffert, who has saddled a record eight Preakness winners. “I’m watching these horses closely. I don’t want to go there unless he has a chance to win. He’s going to breeze this weekend, and then I’ll know more, for sure.”

Baffert said Goal Oriented could work Sunday. He said reigning Eclipse Award winner Flavien Prat would ride Goal Oriented in the 1 3/16-mile Preakness. Prat was aboard for Goal Oriented’s victory at Churchill Downs.

The $425,000 Keeneland September yearling-sale purchase is a son of the hot young sire Not This Time. Goal Oriented’s broodmare sire is Afleet Alex, who won the 2005 Preakness and Belmont Stakes after finishing third in the Kentucky Derby.

Rodríguez has not worked back since missing the Kentucky Derby. His last drill came April 27, when he posted a five-furlong move at Churchill Downs.