Snapper Sinclair moves to the Kentucky Derby 2018 bubble

Just more than a week ago, the Sunday after the Arkansas Derby, Snapper Sinclair owner Jeff Bloom appeared committed to running on the 2018 Kentucky Derby undercard, not in the main event.

Things changed quickly on Monday, however, when both Quip and Gronkowski defected from the prospective field set to run May 5. Now Snapper Sinclair is the first horse outside the Top 20.

According to multiple reports, Bloom, a former jockey who lives on the West Coast, planned to discuss options with trainer Steve Asmussen.

There may be no Derby fever in this camp. Asmussen was the beneficiary of Monday's first defection when stakes-placed Combatant entered the Derby picture. And Bloom campaigns Midnight Bisou, a top filly who may go favored in the Kentucky Oaks.

The Grade 3 American Turf for 3-year-olds was the original target race coming out of the Louisiana Derby, with Snapper Sinclair's best win to date in Kentucky Downs' $350,000 Fasig-Tipton Turf Showcase Juvenile Stakes last September on the grass.

Easy to spot given his flashy blaze, Snapper Sinclair has breezed lately on dirt and trained since Saturday during the official Churchill Downs training window reserved for Derby and Oaks contenders.

Behind Snapper Sinclair on the updated Derby points leaderboard are Blended Citizen, Reride, Dream Baby Dream and Restoring Hope.