LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- Bob Baffert's Kentucky Derby hopes were dashed Friday when Wimbledon was scratched because of swelling in his left front leg.

"Isn't that terrible?" the three-time Derby-winning trainer said, explaining that the gray-roan colt had a sore and swollen dime-sized knot on the outside of his leg near the tendon.

"I can't take any chances," Baffert said. "He probably did it yesterday galloping."

St Averil joined Wimbledon on the sidelines, too. Trainer Rafael Becerra said the colt had tender front feet.

"We think the problem is minor, but we want to make sure," said Tim McMurry, the bloodstock agent for owner Stan Fulton.

Wimbledon's injury is not believed to be career-threatening for the Louisiana Derby winner.

"This is the part of the business we never get used to," Baffert said. "They're fragile. When you have soft tissue damage involved, you have to be really careful."

The injury was discovered at about 6 a.m. when Wimbledon's leg bandages were removed.

"There's no way to sugarcoat this thing," said Baffert, standing in the doorway of his barn as a steady rain fell on Churchill Downs.

The injury ended Baffert's streak of eight consecutive Derby appearances. He's had 13 starters over that span and won with Silver Charm in 1997, Real Quiet in 1998 and War Emblem in 2002.

The first two posts will be empty, so the following horses will move out one spot: Limehouse, Song of the Sword, Lion Heart, Action This Day, Friends Lake, Minister Eric and Master David. Horses in posts 10 through 20 were unaffected.

Wimbledon would have started from post five; St Averil was in post nine.

Baffert's horse, who was 15-1 on the morning line, was coming off a fifth-place finish in the Santa Anita Derby, but had turned in two solid workouts this week that sparked Baffert's enthusiasm.

He captured the depressed mood around his barn by quoting the late trainer Charlie Whittingham, who once said, "Horses are like strawberries, they go bad overnight."

The injury leaves the Derby without one of racing's most successful trainer-jockey combinations. Jerry Bailey won the race in 1993 aboard Sea Hero and again in '96 with Grindstone. He had ridden in every Derby since 1991.

Ron Anderson, Bailey's agent, indicated there was still a possibility the jockey could end up on a Derby horse.

"I'm just doing my job," Anderson said. "Who knows what can happen?"

Bailey isn't second-guessing himself, but if Eddington had enough graded stakes earnings to get into the 19-horse field, the Hall of Famer probably would have ridden him.

"I'm disappointed. Guess I'll have to hang around another year," Bailey said. "I guess if I didn't have any other choices, it might have been easier to take. But it is a little easier for me. I make it here every year and usually so does Bob. I feel bad for the owner. He's been trying to make it here."

This would have been the first Derby start for owner James McIngvale. The Houston furniture store owner has spent millions trying to get a horse into the race.

"I'm more disappointed not only for my staff, we were looking forward to it, but the McIngvale family was really looking forward to it,'' Baffert said. "We finally got Mac a good horse."

McIngvale had just gotten dressed and was ready to fly to Louisville when Baffert called with the news.

"I was taking about 30 people and I just canceled that. I've got to sell the tickets," McIngvale said by cell phone.

Now he plans to watch Saturday's race on television.

"I've always been very determined," said McIngvale, who has several promising 2-year-olds in the pipeline. "I can't give up. We've got to retool and get back there next year."

Baffert made his first Derby appearance in '96, when Cavonnier lost by a nose to Grindstone. Baffert and Bailey were teaming up for the first time in the Derby.

"It's a very trying time. That's what happens," said Nick Zito, the only winning trainer left in the race. He will saddle 4-1 early favorite The Cliff's Edge in a bid to win for the third time.

Trainer John Servis once called the owners of Smarty Jones with the news that the horse had smashed his head against the iron starting gate and was bleeding profusely. Smarty Jones recovered and was the early 9-2 second choice for the Derby.

"I've never been in that position, but I know what it's like to have to make a phone call like that," Servis said.

In 2002, Baffert scratched Danthebluegrassman because of cramps the day before the race. But his other horse, War Emblem, pulled off a shocking $43 upset to win.

Saturday's forecast was for mostly cloudy skies with a 60 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms by late afternoon, and highs in the mid-70s.