Lord Nelson Ruled Out of Sunland Derby
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Lord Nelson, who appeared to be one of the only challengers to favored Firing Line in the $800,000 Sunland Derby March 22, will not be making the trip to New Mexico, trainer Bob Baffert said March 19 at Santa Anita Park.
BALAN: Firing Line Playing Favorite in Sunland Derby
"I'm not going to send him," Baffert said. "He's OK. I just got back here and he just ran (in the grade II San Felipe Stakes). I was hoping he would bounce back, but he's still not quite as sharp as I wanted him to be. I'll find something else for him."
Last a winner in the San Vicente Stakes (gr. II) Feb. 1, in which he defeated Sentient Jet Breeders' Cup Juvenile (gr. I) winner Texas Red, the son of Pulpit was a far-back fourth behind stablemate Dortmund in the San Felipe March 7.
Lord Nelson currently sits in 28th place in the Road to the Kentucky Derby presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) standings with six points. He was the 3-1 second choice on the morning line behind 8-5 favorite Firing Line for the Triple Crown prep race at Sunland Park.