ARCADIA, Calif. - Bob Baffert has won 12 graded stakes this year, including five Grade 1 races in Arkansas, California and Florida. The figure equals what he accomplished at the same time through the first weekend of May 2023, and is one more graded stakes win than the same time frame in 2022. This year, the success may be the foundation for a better late spring and summer for the Hall of Fame trainer. In coming weeks, Baffert, 71, has major contenders in important stakes in Maryland and California. Muth and Imagination will be among the leading choices in the Grade 1 Preakness Stakes at Pimlico on May 18. Muth won the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park on March 30, while Imagination was second by a neck in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby a week later. They were excluded from the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs last Saturday because of a track-imposed suspension against Baffert stemming from a positive found in the Baffert-trained Medina Spirit, the first-place finisher in the 2021 Kentucky Derby. :: Bet with the Best! Get FREE All-Access PPs and Weekly Cashback when you wager on DRF Bets. But Baffert’s current stable is much more than 3-year-olds. On Memorial Day weekend, Adare Manor, Baffert’s leading older mare, is scheduled to start in the Grade 2 Santa Margarita Stakes at Santa Anita, a day before Du Jour runs in the Grade 1 Shoemaker Mile on turf and Mr Fisk has an expected appearance in the Grade 2 Hollywood Gold Cup at 1 1/4 miles. Adare Manor, who worked a half-mile in 48.40 seconds at Santa Anita on Sunday, led throughout the Grade 1 Apple Blossom Handicap at 1 1/16 miles at Oaklawn Park on April 13, winning by an easy 5 1/2 lengths as the 7-10 favorite. This summer, the Baffert stable could have a greater role in the older male division with the expected return to racing of the major stakes winners Arabian Knight, National Treasure, and Newgate. Arabian Knight, the winner of the Grade 1 Pacific Classic at Del Mar last September as a 3-year-old, has not raced since a fourth-place finish in the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Santa Anita last November. Arabian Knight has worked quickly in recent weeks for an undetermined comeback race, including five furlongs in 59.40 seconds last Thursday. “When I work him three-quarters, I’ll look for something,” Baffert said of a return race. “He’s filled out.” Newgate won the Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap on March 3, but finished ninth in the $12 million Dubai World Cup in the United Arab Emirates on March 30. He worked a half-mile at Santa Anita in 49 seconds on April 27. National Treasure won the Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup Invitational at Gulfstream Park on Jan. 27, but finished fourth in the $20 million Saudi Cup in Saudi Arabia on Feb. 24. He has not worked since mid-April and is expected to start soon. There are no race plans for the brilliant 3-year-old Nysos, who was taken out of training in March. “He’s just chilling,” Baffert said. Nysos is unbeaten in three starts, including two stakes, by a combined 26 3/4 lengths. Nysos won his stakes debut in the Grade 3 Bob Hope by 8 3/4 lengths at Del Mar last November, and his lone start this year in the Grade 3 Robert Lewis Stakes at a mile by 7 1/2 lengths at Santa Anita on Feb. 3. Nysos was entered in the Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes at Santa Anita on March 3, but was withdrawn. The 3-year-old filly Nothing Like You won the Grade 2 Santa Anita Oaks on April 6 in an upset. She is scheduled to make her next start in the Grade 2 Summertime Oaks at Santa Anita on June 8. “I don’t know if she’s up to shipping,” Baffert said. Through Saturday, Baffert ranked sixth in the nation with earnings of $5.9 million, far below leader Steve Asmussen with $10.8 million. Asmussen had won 151 races from 896 starters, while Baffert had 28 winners from 98 starters. Baffert has had mixed results in the last two summers. From mid-May to Labor Day last year, the stable won 11 graded stakes, compared to just three in 2022. The stable expects a greater level of success in coming months. :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.