Baffert Puts Captain Steve Return on Hold

Dubai World Cup (UAE-I) winner Captain Steve will not be running against Horse of the Year Tiznow in the May 12 Pimlico Special (gr. I) as previously announced, trainer Bob Baffert said on Tuesday. "He looked so good when he came back from Dubai that I got a little ahead of myself pointing him for the race," Baffert said. "But he hasn't bounced back and doesn't look as good as I thought he was. I'm just not happy with the way he is right now. He's just not there."

Baffert said Captain Steve would ship to his Churchill Downs stable from California this Friday. "I'll look at the Stephen Foster (a grade II race at Churchill on June 16, Kentucky Derby alumni day) and the Hollywood Gold Cup." The grade I Gold Cup is run July 1

"When you go to Dubai you've got to win," Baffert said, "because you're going to lose time with your horse. If you don't win, you don't get the money and you still lose the time. We were lucky enough to get the money." Captain Steve earned $3.6 million for owner Mike Pegram in Dubai.

In a possible late change of plans, Baffert said Kentucky Derby favorite Point Given may ship to Kentucky on Friday with Captain Steve, instead of on Wednesday as originally planned. "The cold weather back there has me concerned a little," Baffert said Tuesday afternoon. "I'll be watching the Weather Channel tonight."