Bayern earns himself spot in Met Mile

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Trainer Bob Baffert said Bayern had to “really show him something” in his work on Monday at Churchill Downs to earn a spot in Saturday’s Met Mile at Belmont Park. And, sure enough, last year’s Breeders’ Cup Classic champion did just that.

Working in company with stablemate Cat Burglar, Bayern breezed five furlongs from the half-mile pole in 59.38. He began a half-length in front of Cat Burglar nearest the rail and finishing well clear on the turn. He then extended his advantage, galloping out six furlongs around the bend in 1:13.03 with Martin Garcia aboard.

“The way he worked today, it looks like he may be rounding back to form again,” said Baffert at Churchill Downs. “It was either the Stephen Foster or the Met, and to be honest I just don’t know what he’d do here over a dry track. If all looks well with him in the morning, he’ll get on the plane for New York.”

Bayern is coming off a sixth-place finish behind Private Zone as the 4-5 favorite in the seven-furlong Churchill Downs Stakes. The May 2 race was his first start since the Breeders’ Cup.

“He worked well before his last race but he was just flat,” said Baffert. “He didn’t break, he really didn’t pick it up. If he ran his race he still should have been second or third. Even when he ran here in the Derby Trial, he won and was disqualified, but he should have destroyed that field. For some reason he just seems to have trouble with this track. The Met Mile is a tough race, but it should be a small field and he ran really well there last year.”

Bayern won the seven-furlong Woody Stephens by 7 1/2 lengths on the 2014 Belmont Stakes undercard.

A field of 10 seems likely for the Met Mile, with Bayern sharing top weight of 123 pounds along with Private Zone and Tonalist. The remainder of the expected lineup is: Wicked Strong (119), Tamarkuz (119), Honor Code (118), Sahara Sky (117), Kobe’s Back (116), Pants On Fire (116), and Bay of Plenty (114).