Baffert's decision makes Bayern one to beat in Derby Trial
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LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert entered two horses in the Derby Trial on the opening-night program Saturday at Churchill Downs, either of whom would be a decisive choice if he ran.
But Baffert has scratched Chitu from the Trial and said early Saturday he “definitely” will run Bayern, who figures as a heavy favorite in the Grade 3, $150,000 Trial, which goes as the eighth of 10 races on a Downs After Dark card that starts at 6 p.m. Eastern.
As of Thursday, Bayern was 23rd on the points list for eligibility into the 140th Kentucky Derby, which is set for next Saturday, May 3. His earnings from a Trial victory would actually vault Bayern into 19th on that list, but Baffert said it is extremely unlikely he would wheel the colt back in the Derby.
Like the Derby itself, there are quite a few moving parts in the run-up to the Trial, although that’s about where the similarities begin and end. Unlike in bygone eras, when the Trial was regularly used as a final prep just four days out from the big race, the Trial seldom produces a Derby starter, let alone the Derby winner, the last of those being Tim Tam in 1958.
Bayern, with Rosie Napravnik named to ride, will start from post 1 in this 90th running of the Trial, which is run out of the Longfield Ave. chute as a one-turn mile. The Offlee Wild colt was so well-regarded off his first two races at Santa Anita, both easy wins, that he was made the 8-5 favorite two weeks ago in the Arkansas Derby, a race in which he contested the pace before fading to third, beaten 5 1/4 lengths by the victorious Danza.
Beyond Bayern, the Trial has a contentious look, with Spot and Myositis Dan among the next wagering choices.
Spot, trained by Nick Zito, won the Grade 3 Swale at Gulfstream Park before beating just one opponent in the Florida Derby, while Myositis Dan, trained by Tom Proctor, ran second in back-to-back Gulf allowance sprints before winning a Keeneland allowance three weeks ago.
“My horse beat Danza at Gulfstream, so he can’t be that bad,” said Proctor, alluding to a March 1 allowance. “Some of those races down there didn’t play all that well in his favor. He ran decent over this track last fall. He drew a good post [the far outside] for a flat mile, so there are some plusses for us in this spot.”
The rest of the Trial lineup is Big Sugar Soda, Friendswith K Mill, Matador, Embellishing Bob, Laddie Boy, and Bitters ‘n Bourbon.
Post time for the Trial is 10:01, with the 10th race set for 11:05. HRTV has live coverage throughout the night.