Mike Pegram's Govenor Charlie, record-breaking winner of the Sunland Derby (gr. III), is scheduled to be shipped to Churchill Downs April 18 after a brief visit to Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital in Lexington, Ky.
Trainer Bob Baffert said the son of Midnight Lute is doing fine and should return to the track April 19. Govenor Charlie's next start is expected to be in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) May 4.
"His foot was bugging him a couple of days ago, so we thought we better check it out and sent him to Dr. (Larry) Bramlage at Rood & Riddle for a bone scan, which came up negative," Baffert said. "He was just off one morning; it may have been just a slight bruise. We'll get him to Churchill Downs and play it by ear, and just see how he's doing."
Govenor Charlie has won two of his three starts while earning $444,800. His last published workout was April 11: four furlongs in :48 1/5 at Santa Anita Park.
Baffert also will send Gary and Mary West's Code West to Churchill Downs. The son of Lemon Drop Kid breezed three furlongs in :36, out in :48, recently at Santa Anita, but Baffert said the clockers missed him. Baffert also will see how he's training, but said he's thinking about pointing him to the May 11 Peter Pan Stakes (gr. II) at Belmont Park.
As for War Academy, who was pulled up by Mike Smith in the Arkansas Derby (gr. I), Baffert said they still have not found anything wrong with him.