Concert Tour to Bypass Kentucky Derby

One of the pre-post favourites for the time-honoured Gr1 Kentucky Derby will bypass the opening leg of the US Triple Crown for 3YOs. Concert Hall (Street Sense-Bedazzle, by Dixieland Band), raced by high profile owners Gary and Mary West who are well known due to their association with 3YO star Maximum Security (New Year’s Day), will instead be reserved for the Gr1 Preakness Stakes. The latter, the traditional second leg of the prestigious series, will be held on 15 May, two weeks after the ‘Run to The Rose’ is run at Churchill Downs. According to bloodhorse.com, the decision to head straight to Pimlico instead was communicated by trainer Bob Baffert via a succinct text to Churchill officials which read: “Concert out.  Wait for Preakness”. Following a Santa Anita maiden victory, Concert Tour proceeded to win the Gr2 San Vincente (Santa Anita) and Gr2 Rebel Stakes (Oaklawn) before a disappointing third-placing in traditional Derby lead-up race, the Gr1 Arkansas Derby (Oaklawn). By Darley’s Kentucky Derby hero Street Sense (Street Cry), Concert Tour is a home-bred for the Wests from the family of 5-time Gr1-winning US Champion 2YO Filly Stardom Bound (Tapit).