Baffert hoping to strike right away at Saratoga meet

ELMONT, N.Y. – Last year, trainer Bob Baffert didn’t make his presence felt at Saratoga until late in the meet, when he sent Arrogate and Drefong across the country to win the Travers and King’s Bishop.

Baffert could make a much earlier entrance at Saratoga this summer.

Provided a scheduled workout at Santa Anita on Saturday goes well, Baffert plans to run Abel Tasman in the Grade 1 Coaching Club American Oaks for 3-year-old fillies on July 23.

“I’m going to breeze her on Saturday, and I’ll know for sure,” Baffert said Thursday. “She has to work super on Saturday – up to my standards.”

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Baffert had a most memorable Belmont Stakes afternoon at Belmont Park on June 10, winning stakes with all four horses he shipped from California, including Abel Tasman in the Grade 1 Acorn and Mor Spirit in the Grade 1 Metropolitan Handicap. Mor Spirit is being considered for the Grade 1 Whitney at Saratoga on Aug. 5.

Baffert won’t be shipping Arrogate to Saratoga this summer because the horse is being pointed to the San Diego Handicap at Del Mar on July 22, followed by the Pacific Classic, also at Del Mar, on Aug. 19.

With victories in the Kentucky Oaks and Acorn, Abel Tasman has positioned herself atop the 3-year-old filly division. Last year, Songbird shipped in from Southern California and won both the Coaching Club and Grade 1 Alabama, a race that Abel Tasman is also expected to run in.

A small field is expected for the Coaching Club. As of Friday, only Elate and Salty were confirmed to start. Berned and Jamyson ‘n Ginger were listed as possible by New York Racing Association officials.

Baffert was planning to send the recent maiden winner Serengeti for the Grade 2 Sanford Stakes on July 22 but said Thursday that he now likely will skip that race.

Serengeti, a son of Algorithims, won his maiden by 11 lengths on June 25, just 15 days after finishing second to Runaway Ghost. Both races were at Santa Anita.

Among those pointing to the Sanford are Admiral Jimmy, Bal Harbour, Direct Dial, Firenze Fire, Nauti Boy, and Psychoanalyze.