Bayern eyes Churchill Downs Stakes on Derby undercard

Bayern, unraced since winning the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Santa Anita in November, will have his 2015 debut at Churchill Downs the first weekend of May, most likely in the $500,000 Churchill Downs Stakes on the Kentucky Derby undercard May 2.

On Wednesday, trainer Bob Baffert said Bayern will start in either the Churchill Downs Stakes at seven furlongs or the $400,000 Alysheba Stakes at 1 1/16 miles May 1 on the undercard of the Kentucky Oaks. He said he is leaning toward the Churchill Downs Stakes.

“It’s a good starting point for him,” Baffert said. “I’ll nominate for the Alysheba, and we’ll get there and decide. I would say I’ll probably run in the seven-eighths.”

On Tuesday at Santa Anita, Bayern zoomed seven furlongs in 1:23.60, his longest workout since he resumed training in February following a setback with a bruised foot in January. The foot injury prevented Bayern from a start Feb. 7 in the $590,000 San Antonio Stakes, which was won by Shared Belief over 2014 Horse of the Year California Chrome.

Owned by Kaleem Shah, Bayern, a 4-year-old by Offlee Wild, has won 6 of 10 starts and earned $4,389,680. He won the fourth stakes of his career in the BC Classic in controversial fashion, bumping with Shared Belief shortly after the start and surviving a stewards’ inquiry to retain the victory.

Baffert has spoken highly of Bayern’s exercise in recent weeks.

“He looks great,” Baffert said Wednesday.