By Ron Mitchell and Evan Hammonds
WinStar Farm’s homebred Rule, who figured to be one of the pacesetters for Saturday’s Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), will not be entered.
Bill Casner, co-owner of WinStar Farm, confirmed that Rule will not run after consulting with trainer Todd Pletcher. He said that there is nothing physically wrong with the son of Roman Ruler, but they were not overly pleased with his progress at Churchill Downs.
Rule worked Saturday morning in the slop at Churchill Downs, getting five furlongs in 1:00. He also went to the track yesterday morning and galloped over a sealed surface after the renovation break.
Casner did say the colt may run in the May 15 Preakness Stakes (gr. I). WinStar has three other colts being pointed toward the Derby in American Lion , trained by Eoin Harty; Endorsement, trained by Shannon Ritter; and the Pletcher-trained Super Saver .
A decision on the Derby for the Pletcher-trained Interactif, who worked a half-mile in :47 3/5 Monday morning, will be made Tuesday.
Pletcher also trains Derby hopefuls Devil May Care, Discreetly Mine, and Mission Impazible .
Rule, who is out of the Personal Flag mare Rockcide, has four wins, a second, and two thirds from seven starts. He has earned $791,700 with wins in the Boyd Gaming’s Delta Jackpot Stakes (gr. III), Sam F. Davis Stakes (gr. III), and Jean Lafitte Stakes. He was third in the Florida Derby (gr. I).
With the developments of April 26, it is likely Pletcher will have four Kentucky Derby starters – Devil May Care, Mission Impazible, Super Saver, and Discreetly Mine.