Rebel's Romance to Pass Kentucky Derby, Await Belmont

Rebel's Romance , winner of the March 27 UAE Derby Sponsored by Emirates NBD (G2) at Meydan for Godolphin, has been officially removed from consideration for the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1). He will instead be pointed toward the 1 1/2-mile Belmont Stakes (G1) June 5, according to an April 7 tweet by his owner.

The 3-year-old son of Dubawi  was deemed an unlikely Derby participant following trainer Charlie Appleby's initial comments after the colt's 5 1/2-length UAE Derby triumph. However, Churchill Downs officials still left him on the Kentucky Derby leaderboard through the weekend. He earned 100 qualifying points in winning the UAE Derby to rank fifth after this past week's action. (Officials remove horses after they are formally withdrawn.)

Godolphin, headed by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, already has the early Kentucky Derby favorite in the Brad Cox-trained Essential Quality . The latter, unbeaten in five starts and a champion at 2, resumed training Wednesday at Churchill Downs, having traveled from Keeneland two days earlier after winning the April 3 Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (G2) at the Lexington track.

"Having spoken to His Highness Sheikh Mohammed, we feel (Rebel's Romance) needs more time and he will now be aimed at the last leg of the US Triple Crown, the G1 Belmont S.," Appleby said in the Godolphin tweet.