Behindatthebar to skip Derby; Denis of Cork in

Padua Stables and partners' BEHINDATTHEBAR (Forest Wildcat) will skip

Saturday's Kentucky Derby (G1) and instead be pointed toward the Preakness S.

(G1) on May 17 at Pimlico, trainer Todd Pletcher announced Monday. The bay colt

earned a spot in the starting gate for the Run for the Roses after winning the

Lexington S. (G2) on April 19 at Keeneland. The decision opens the door for

DENIS OF CORK (Harlan's Holiday), who had been 21st on the Kentucky Derby graded

stakes earnings list.

"I spoke with Satish and Sasha Sanan (of Padua) this morning and we all

thought 16 days between two races was a lot of pressure to put on the horse,"

Pletcher said. "If he'd gone to the Derby it would have been three races in 30

days. In all fairness to the horse, who I believe has incredible potential, we

will continue to go the classic route by pointing toward the Preakness."

Behindatthebar rallied from far back to win the Lexington by one length after

capturing a 1 1/16-mile allowance race at Santa Anita in early April. In his

only non-synthetic track start, he finished fifth in the El Camino Real Derby

(G3) at Bay Meadows. Behindatthebar has a record of 5-3-1-0, $277,100.

The colt is owned by a partnership of Padua Stables (Satish and Sasha Sanan),

Michael Shustek, and Don Stanley.