Trainer Bob Baffert has confirmed that his horse Plutarch is out of the running for the 2026 Kentucky Derby. The colt, who held the eighth position on the leaderboard, will not compete in the race. Baffert mentioned the Belmont Stakes as a potential next target.
Plutarch, an Into Mischief colt owned by Mrs. John Magnier, Derrick Smith, and Michael Tabor, began his career in August with a second-place finish behind Intrepido. He followed that with a runner-up effort in the Del Mar Juvenile Turf (G3), then placed third in both the American Pharoah (G1) and the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance Stakes. The colt broke his maiden in November and secured a victory in the Grade 3 Robert B. Lewis Stakes on February 7 in his 2026 debut.
Despite this promising start, Plutarch has not returned to the work tab since the Lewis Stakes. Baffert stated in a text message that the horse is no longer under consideration for the Kentucky Derby, though he did not elaborate on the reasons. He added that the Belmont Stakes, scheduled for June 5 at Saratoga, remains a possibility.
Baffert continues to have other contenders in the Derby points standings. Litmus Test leads with 19 points after winning the Los Alamitos Futurity (G2) and is entered in the upcoming Rebel Stakes (G2) on Sunday. Brant holds nine points, having won the Del Mar Futurity (G3) and finished third in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile. Desert Gate also has nine points, with a fourth-place finish in the Lewis Stakes and second in the American Pharoah. Buetane rounds out the group with seven points, coming off a third-place result in the Southwest (G3).
