Connections of grade 1 winner Timberlake have chosen to skip an opportunity to run in the Kentucky Derby (G1) May 4, according to trainer Brad Cox in a report from the Daily Racing Form April 2. He sits fifth on the points leaderboard with 81.
Exiting a win in the 1 1/16-mile Rebel Stakes (G2) at Oaklawn Park Feb. 24, Timberlake entered the 1 1/8-mile Arkansas Derby (G1) March 30 as the 6-5 favorite. Breaking mid-pack, he moved up to challenge eventual winner Muth on the backstretch before fading to fourth in the stretch, losing by 6 3/4 lengths.
"Based on the performance over the weekend, we are not going to run in the Kentucky Derby," Cox told the DRF. "We are thinking about cutting him back in distance.
"He came out of it in good order, very sound, and ships back to Churchill Downs today. We still feel it's in his best interest not to try a mile and a quarter in four and a half weeks."
Timberlake performed very well around one turn as a 2-year-old. He won the one-turn mile Champagne Stakes (G1) at Aqueduct Racetrack in October after running second in the seven-furlong Hopeful Stakes (G1) a month prior at Saratoga Race Course.
Cox said the decision was made with Timberlake's owners, Siena Farm and WinStar Farm.
