Baeza resumes galloping

Baeza, the winner of the Grade 1 Pennsylvania Derby in September, has resumed galloping at Santa Anita for a comeback in the coming months.

Third in the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes last spring, Baeza has not raced since he finished sixth of nine in the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Del Mar on Nov. 1. Owned by CRK Stables and Grandview Equine, Baeza has shown eager behavior at times in his recent training, according to trainer John Shirreffs.

“It’s a process,” Shirreffs said. “Sometimes they come back and they’re really fresh and they want to play too much. Now he’s starting to settle down.”

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Shirreffs said Baeza is not far along enough in his training to plan a comeback race.

“It’s a bit foolish to get too far ahead,” Shirreffs said.

Baeza has won 2 of 9 starts and earned $1,643,500.

The $1 million Pennsylvania Derby is Baeza’s lone stakes win. He closed from eighth in a field of 10 to win by 2 1/4 lengths over Magnitude, who later won the Grade 2 Clark Handicap at Churchill Downs on Nov. 28.

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