Honor A. P. tunes up for Kentucky Derby in Shared Belief Stakes

DEL MAR, Calif. – Honor A. P. already has proven he belongs in the Kentucky Derby. Cezanne and Thousand Words are trying to get to that level. Those three are among an abbreviated field that will compete on Saturday at Del Mar in the $100,000 Shared Belief Stakes, which is a final Derby prep for Honor A. P., but a proving ground for his two main rivals.

Six were entered in the Shared Belief, but fewer will start. Bob Baffert, who trains Cezanne and Thousand Words, also entered Uncle Chuck, but – as expected – said he will be scratched and run one week later in the Travers Stakes at Saratoga. The connections of Anneau d’Or were still debating at midweek whether to stay in the race or head to the Ellis Park Derby on Aug. 9, so he also could come out.

Owing to the expected small field, combined with a prohibitive favorite in Honor A. P., Del Mar made the Shared Belief race 2 on the 11-race card.

The Shared Belief, in previous editions, has been run at the end of the meet at one mile. Because of the postponement of the Derby to Sept. 5, this year’s Shared Belief was moved on the calendar to make it a final West Coast prep for the Derby, and was lengthened to 1 1/16 miles. It offers 85 points overall, with 50 to the winner, on the system used by Churchill Downs to determine the Derby field if there are more than the maximum 20 entrants.

Honor A. P. is cutting back in distance after capturing the 1 1/8-mile Santa Anita Derby in his last start while earning a career-best Beyer Speed Figure of 102. This is designed to keep him ticking over to his major goal.

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“I want to see him run well, have a quick recovery, and get ready for the next one,” said his trainer, John Shirreffs.

Honor A. P. has had four local works since arriving from Santa Anita. Shirreffs said he’s hoping the track is firmer this weekend, similar to the track Honor A. P. trained over in early July, as opposed to the deep, tiring track that Maximum Security and the Shirreffs-trained Midcourt slogged through last Saturday in the San Diego.

“He loved that first track,” Shirreffs said.

Honor A. P. landed post 5 in the original field of six. Drawn just to his outside is Cezanne, a $3.65 million auction purchase who looks to be the speed of the race. He is coming off a workmanlike victory (85 Beyer) against allowance company at Los Alamitos, making him a perfect 2 for 2. The Shared Belief is his stakes debut. Flavien Prat chose him over Thousand Words.

“We’ll find out where he fits with John’s horse,” Baffert said. “He’s getting fitter and fitter. He’s been a heavy horse. He’s quick. He’s fast.”

Thousand Words was second to Uncle Chuck in the Los Alamitos Derby, an improved performance over his prior two. He has looked particularly sharp in his local workouts, including in company with Cezanne last Saturday.

“There’s been a big change in him since he got down here,” said Baffert, who has Abel Cedillo named to ride.

The longshot Kiss Today Goodbye completes the field.