Forumsbanner » Battaglia revised the Derby morning line

LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- Bob Baffert is down to one horse for the Kentucky Derby after early 6-1 second choice Hoppertunity was scratched Thursday because of a sore left front foot. The colt was to have been ridden Saturday by Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith. "Bad news travels fast," Baffert said outside his barn, where onlookers gathered as word spread around Churchill Downs. "The horse is OK. Hes just not 100 per cent and its too close to the race, so I pulled the plug." Baffert first noticed signs something wasnt quite right on Wednesday, when Hoppertunity took a few steps. The inside quarter of his left foot was sore, so part of his shoe was cut off. As the colt walked to warm up, he didnt appear bothered. But Baffert decided to scratch him anyway. Hoppertunity will have a full scan Thursday to eliminate any other possible problems than a sore foot, which will be soaked. In a bit of gallows humour, Baffert joked, "We missed a Hoppertunity." He said the colt could return in time for the Preakness on May 17. Churchill Downs oddsmaker Mike Battaglia revised the Derby morning line odds, although California Chrome remained the favourite at 5-2. Wicked Strong, the colt named for the victims of last years Boston Marathon bombings, replaced Hoppertunity as the early second choice at 6-1. Arkansas Derby winner Danza and Intense Holiday were installed as the co-third choices at 8-1. Tapiture was made the fifth choice at 12-1. The odds for Candy Boy were lowered to 15-1 from 20-1. Louisiana Derby winner Vicars In Trouble, to be ridden by Rosie Napravnik, dropped to 20-1 from 30-1. Smith will still be busy on Derby day, ridding in seven of the 13 races on the card. "I could still have a pretty good day," he said. "Id rather lose it this way than something happen on the track." The scratch moved also-eligible horse Pablo Del Monte into the maximum 20-horse field. However, the 50-1 shot would have to start from the No. 20 post position. It wasnt immediately known if Pablo Del Montes owners want to start under that condition. "Its amazing to have the opportunity to run," said Wesley Ward, who trains and co-owns the colt. "With my 25 per cent there is nothing Id love better, with a horse that I bred, than to run. But I have to go with what my partners want to do." The original plan for Pablo Del Monte, who was third in the Blue Grass, was to wait for the Preakness. His other owners are in Europe, and Ward expected to learn their decision later Thursday or early Friday. Hoppertunity had drawn the No. 11 post. With his scratch, the other horses in the outside starting gate all moved up one spot. Blue Grass winner Dance With Fate will now break from the 11th spot. Baffert has another horse in the race, 20-1 shot Chitu. That colt also has had foot problems and recently threw one of his shoes. "Ive had a lot of luck here," said Baffert, a three-time Derby winner, "so I cant really complain." Wholesale Jerseys Free Shipping . Hes even holding a bat on one of his 2014 baseball cards. So far, hes playing like his picture. Supply NFL Jerseys . -- Chris Tillman paid no attention to the Baltimore bullpen as it started to stir in the ninth inning. http://www.wholesalenflchinacheapjerseys.com/. The team announced the moves before Sundays game against Houston. Shaw was 1-4 with a 4.26 ERA in 43 games for the Diamondbacks. Bergesen was claimed off waivers from Baltimore on Friday. Wholesale Jerseys China .3 seconds remaining, and No. 7 North Carolina held off a resilient No. 25 Virginia team, 54-51, on Saturday. John Henson contributed a double-double with 15 points to go with 11 rebounds for the Tar Heels (25-4, 12-2 ACC), who have won five straight and 10 of 11. Wholesale Cheap Jerseys . An in-person hearing allows for Garbutt to be suspended for five games or longer as per the leagues Collective Bargaining Agreement. Garbutt delivered a high hit to Penner in the second period of Sundays game.CHICAGO -- The last-place Texas Rangers vented two months worth of frustration. Robinson Chirinos homered twice and Colby Lewis pitched a six-hitter to lead Texas to a 16-0 rout of the Chicago White Sox, the largest shutout victory in team history. J.P. Arencibia, Adrian Beltre and Shin-Soo Choo also went deep for the Rangers, who set a season-high in runs scored and snapped a four-game losing streak. Their last five-homer game came last August at U.S. Cellular Field. "You dont figure against a guy like (John) Danks that will happen," manager Ron Washington said. "We just kept putting runs on the board, and thats what we have to continue to do. I just hope this is a reward for us to turn things around and we can get more consistent." The Rangers had 18 hits. The laugher ended with designated hitter Adam Dunn on the mound in the ninth inning. The 6-foot-6, 280-pounder allowed one run on two hits and a walk. He did not speak with reporters afterward. "If (Dunn) hits someone, we cant charge him -- hes too big," joked Beltre, who added, "He was throwing power sinkers. Obviously, they were too nasty for J.P." Arencibia fouled out. Lewis (8-8) recorded his second career shutout, both against the White Sox in Chicago. He walked one and struck out seven. "The offence came through and gave me a lot of relaxation, especially after the first two innings," Lewis said. "I was able to pound the strike zone and get some quick outs." "Colby Lewis was the show tonight," Washington said. "I mean, he executed his pitches as well I have seen see him execute them. He never lost focus. He looked like the Colby we used to know." Danks (9-7) was rocked for nine runs on five walks and eight hits, including four home runs, in 4 2/3 innings.dddddddddddd The left-hander leads the American League with 23 homers allowed. After Chirinos slammed a solo homer in the second inning, Danks walked the bases loaded. Arencibia cleared them on a two-out double. Three innings later, Arencibia and Chirinos went deep with the bases empty to stake the Rangers to a 9-0 lead. The multi-homer game was the first for Chirinos in his career. "Its a shame to go out there and get your butt kicked on a night you feel so good," Danks said. "It doesnt happen every night when you feel great, and tonight I did. I felt real good about everything in the bullpen." Choo concluded the home run derby with an opposite-field homer off Maikel Cleto in the sixth inning. The Rangers needed only five pitches to strike first. Choo led off the game with a double and scored on Alex Rios base hit. Beltre followed with a two-run blast into the left-field bleachers. TRAINERS ROOM Rangers: Right-handed pitcher Nick Tepesch (3-8) will rejoin the rotation on Wednesday afternoon. He skipped one turn because of a sore left knee. After two starts, Jerome Williams will move back to his customary bullpen role. White Sox: Outfielder Alejandro De Aza was a late scratch after he complained of soreness in his bruised left knee in the pre-game warm-up. His status is day-to-day. He sustained the injury when he hit a foul ball off the knee on Monday night. Moises Sierra took his place in the outfield. Pitching coach Don Cooper was not available because of a recurrence of vertigo-related symptoms. He is unlikely to travel with the team on its next road trip. ON DECK Left-hander Chris Sale (10-1, 2.09) will oppose Tepesch (3-7, 4.84) in the series finale on Wednesday. ' ' '