Bayern impresses in work with stablemate Chitu

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Bayern was clearly best over his Bob Baffert stablemate Chitu in a team workout during a relatively quiet Monday training session reserved for Kentucky Derby and Oaks horses at Churchill Downs.

Over a fast track, Chitu started a little ahead of Bayern while closest to the rail on the backstretch, and the pair stayed in close proximity to each other throughout, with Bayern finishing with more energy. Churchill clocker John Nichols credited both with a half-mile time of 47.60 seconds. But Bayern accelerated away past the wire, and his gallop-out times were 1:00.20 and 1:13.40, whereas Chitu was not nearly as enthusiastic in a five-furlong gallop-out in 1:01.

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Baffert assistant Jim Barnes watched the work alongside the frontside clockers.

“Super good,” he said of Bayern. As for Chitu: “That’s just the way he is.”

Bayern, owned by Kaleem Shah, was third as the 8-5 favorite in the April 12 Arkansas Derby in his last start, which was just his third career start.

Chitu, owned by the Tanma Corp. of Susan Chu, won the March 23 Sunland Derby in his fourth and most recent start.

Earlier Monday, Tapiture had his first breeze since finishing fourth in the April 12 Arkansas Derby, going an easy five furlongs in 1:02.80, with a six-furlong gallop-out time of 1:16.40.