Baeza works with Pacific Classic or Pennsylvania Derby likely up next
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A first appearance against older horses in the Grade 1 Pacific Classic at Del Mar on Aug. 30 or a trip to the Grade 1 Pennsylvania Derby at Parx Racing on Sept. 20 are two leading options for Baeza, who has been second or third in four leading races for 3-year-olds since early April.
Trainer John Shirreffs said on Thursday that a decision on Baeza’s next start is not imminent. He said the Grade 1 Travers Stakes at Saratoga on Aug. 23 is a possibility, but rated that famous race for 3-year-olds as third on the list of choices.
“I think the horse will tell us the right direction,” he said.
At Del Mar on Thursday, Baeza worked a half-mile in 48 seconds, his first workout since a second-place finish by a length to top 3-year-old Sovereignty in the Grade 2 Jim Dandy Stakes at Saratoga on July 26.
Baeza, who races for Lee and Susan Searing’s CRK Stable, worked alone and showed “a lot of energy,” Shirreffs said.
“I’m happy that he worked well and is full of energy. That was a good thing. The next work will probably be a little more important than this one.”
The $1 million Pacific Classic is run at 1 1/4 miles and is the top race of the Del Mar summer season. The Pennsylvania Derby is run at 1 1/8 miles at Parx Racing and is closer to the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Del Mar on Nov. 1, a late season goal for Baeza.
When to run Baeza in coming weeks is the main issue as of now, Shirreffs said.
“That’s the question,” he said.
Baeza was second to Journalism in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby on April 6, and third behind Sovereignty in the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on May 3 and the Belmont Stakes at Saratoga on June 7.
In the Jim Dandy, Baeza started from the inside post in a field of five. He raced wide on the backstretch and was within a length of the lead through the final quarter-mile.
“I thought he ran fantastic,” Shirreffs said. “He had to overcome a lot of obstacles, breaking from the one hole. He had to attend the race the whole way and he never got a breather.
“If he drew an outside post, who knows what would have happened.”
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