Baffert still pondering next starts for stable stars

Bob Baffert has a bunch of talented horses who have posted May workouts at Churchill Downs. It’s just that Baffert either doesn’t yet know or isn’t willing to publicly state where many of them will next race.

The $3 million auction horse Brant might or might not run in the Grade 1 Woody Stephens next month at Saratoga. Crude Velocity, brilliant winner of the Pat Day Mile last out, could run in the Stephens or try two turns in the Matt Winn at Churchill.

Explora, a gallant fourth in the Kentucky Oaks, worked a quick half-mile May 14 at Churchill in 47.60 seconds. The Acorn on June 5 at Saratoga in some sense would be a natural spot, but Baffert mentioned the race’s 1 1/8-mile distance as something less than desirable.

No spots yet, either, for Forced Entry, who has worked three times at Churchill since being pulled up in the Santa Anita Oaks, or Usha, third in the Grade 1 Derby City Distaff.

Baffert does have a race for Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint winner Splendora, a distant fourth as the even-money Derby City favorite. Splendora has a pair of victories in two-turn, one-mile races, and will try to stretch her speed over 1 1/16 miles in the Grade 2, $300,000 Shawnee on May 30 at Churchill, Baffert said.

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