Dortmund to be Saddled on Paddock Path

Dortmund, the 3-1 second choice for the May 2 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), will be saddled on the path in the Churchill Downs paddock rather than one of the enclosed stalls, Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert said April 30.



Baffert made the decision to deviate from traditional saddling plans after the large son of Big Brown   schooled in the paddock April 30 for a second consecutive day along with other Derby and undercard contenders. All were in the paddock while horses were being saddled for the first race on the Thursday card.



Dortmund again did not seem to like being in the close confines of the paddock stall, but was relatively calm as his handlers walked him around the path. He was not nearly as fractious as he was Wednesday when visiting the Churchill paddock for the first time.

Assistant trainer Jimmy Barnes eventually took the colt into the tunnel that leads from the paddock to the track and Dortmund handled that setting much better as Barnes put the saddle on.

Baffert said the saddling of Dortmund, the Santa Anita Derby (gr. I) winner, will take place on the path just outside the stall for the number 20 horse in the Derby. Dortmund, who is undefeated in six starts and comes off a victory in the Santa Anita Derby (gr. I), will break from the 8 post.



"We saddle in a box stall at home (Santa Anita Park) (but) we had this issue when he ran here in November," Baffert said in reference to the colt's 7 3/4-length romp at Churchill last fall after breaking his maiden at Santa Anita.