Bayern to stay in Derby Trial, Kentucky Derby unlikely

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - With the prospects of Bayern making the Kentucky Derby next Saturday growing increasingly doubtful, trainer Bob Baffert on Saturday morning said Bayern would run tonight at Churchill Downs in the Derby Trial.

Bayern currently ranks 23rd on the points list for prospective Derby runners, so he would need three horses ranked above him to drop out to make the Derby field.

The Derby Trial does not offer any points toward the Derby.

In theory, however, Bayern could make enough money Saturday night to move farther up the rankings based on the tie-breaker, earnings in non-restricted races. But it is extremely doubtful Baffert would run him back in a week in the Derby, being as that would mark three races in three weeks for Bayern, who ran in the Arkansas Derby just two weeks ago and has made just three lifetime starts.

Baffert has two runners in the Derby, Hoppertunity and Chitu.

[ROAD TO THE KENTUCKY DERBY: Prep races, point standings, replays]