LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Trainer Bob Baffert says he’s entering Liaison in the Kentucky Derby, giving the Hall of Famer two horses in the field of 20.
Liaison, sired by Indian Charlie, is coming off a string of poor performances in Santa Anita, Calif. The 3-year-old bay colt hasn’t finished in the top three of any race so far in 2012 after winning the CashCall Futurity at Hollywood Park in December.
In three graded stakes races at Santa Anita Park, Liaison finished eighth, fourth and most recently sixth in the Santa Anita Derby. Baffert says Liaison was never comfortable at that track and looks much better at Churchill Downs, prompting him to run the horse with $393,000 in graded stakes earnings along with his other Derby hopeful, Bodemeister.