In a surprising turn of events, Rodriguez, one of the anticipated contenders for the Kentucky Derby, has been scratched from the race due to a minor foot bruise. The decision was made by his owners, Starlight Racing, who stated on social media platform X: "Out of an abundance of caution, we have made a very tough decision to scratch our Derby horse, Rodriguez. He has a small but slightly sensitive foot bruise that will need a few more days."

This development leaves Bob Baffert, the colt's trainer, with only one entry in the Derby, Citizen Bull, last year's 2-year-old champion. Baffert, who is returning to Churchill Downs after a three-year suspension, is aiming for a record-breaking seventh Derby win. However, Citizen Bull faces a challenging start from the No. 1 post, requiring a quick break to avoid being overtaken by the field.

With Rodriguez out, Baeza, trained by John Shirreffs, will now join the field of 20 3-year-olds. Baeza has been training at Churchill Downs since last week, hoping for a chance to compete. Shirreffs, who famously won the Derby in 2005 with the 50-1 shot Giacomo, will be looking to replicate that success with Baeza, who was the runner-up in the Santa Anita Derby last month.

This unexpected change adds an extra layer of excitement to the Kentucky Derby, as fans and bettors alike will be closely watching how Baeza performs in this high-stakes race. The Derby, known as "The Most Exciting Two Minutes in Sports," continues to deliver thrilling moments and unexpected twists.