Baffert sending in trio for Belmont Stakes undercard

ELMONT, N.Y. – Bob Baffert got off the Triple Crown trail at the last stop and won’t be attending the Belmont Stakes on Saturday, when California Chrome tries to become Thoroughbred racing’s 12th Triple Crown winner.

But the Hall of Fame trainer will make his presence felt on the prestigious Belmont Stakes card with runners in three of the nine undercard stakes.

In the $1.25 million Metropolitan Handicap, Baffert will send out Shakin It Up, who comes off a head loss to Central Banker in the Grade 2 Churchill Downs on Derby Day. Shakin It Up, a son of Midnight Lute, is a multiple Grade 2 winner, having taken the San Vicente last year at 3 and the Strub in January.

Still, Baffert called Shakin It Up’s last race his best.

“He’s doing really well,” Baffert said by phone from California. “He got beat by a good horse last time, but that was his best race. It’s got to set up for him; the rider has to be patient.”

Baffert said Rosie Napravnik would ride Shakin It Up in the Met Mile.

Shakin It Up was assigned 120 pounds for the Met Mile, behind expected starters Palace Malice (124) and Goldencents (121). Others expected to run include Central Banker (119), Moreno (118), Normandy Invasion (116), Vyjack (116), Broadway Empire (115), Capo Bastone (115), Romansh (115), Declan’s Warrior (114), and Scarly Charly (110).

On Sunday, Palace Malice worked four furlongs in 47.36 seconds over the Belmont training track in company with Celebrator.

“Typical impressive breeze from him,” trainer Todd Pletcher said. “The horse is doing unbelievable.”

Blinkers back on Bayern

Bayern, who finished ninth in the Preakness, will shorten up to seven furlongs in Saturday’s Grade 2, $500,000 Woody Stephens, Baffert said.

Baffert believes the Preakness is a throw-out race because the horse got “creamed leaving there. After that, she [Napravnik] didn’t go on with it.”

Baffert said he is putting Gary Stevens back on Bayern and putting blinkers back on for this race. Baffert took the blinkers off Bayern for the Preakness in hopes of getting the horse to relax for that 1 3/16-mile race.

“It’s not much of a blinker, but hopefully it will keep him a little sharper,” Baffert said. “He’s not in relax mode for this race.”

The Woody Stephens is expected to pick up a major player in Social Inclusion, whose connections on Monday said they were 70-30 to run in that race as opposed to the Belmont Stakes.

Others pointing to the Woody Stephens include Conquest Titan, Coup de Grace, Embellishing Bob, Financial Mogul, Havana, In Trouble, Kobe’s Back, Pure Sensation, Spot, Tonito M., and Top Fortitude.

Cat Burglar to Brooklyn

Cat Burglar comes out of a troubled third-place finish to Revolutionary in the Pimlico Special, but Baffert is opting to run in the $500,000 Brooklyn Invitational at 1 1/2 miles as opposed to taking on Revolutionary again in the Stephen Foster at Churchill Downs.

“I think it might be a little bit of an easier spot,” Baffert said.

Others pointing to the Brooklyn include Bigger Is Bettor, Eriugena, Golden Soul, Ground Transport, Micromanage, and Norumbega. Pick of the Litter is possible.