Santa Anita: Baffert colts Bayern, Tap It Rich face key test

ARCADIA, Calif. – Bob Baffert has grand plans for 3-year-old colts Bayern and Tap It Rich: “They’ll go in stakes from here on out.”

Before embarking on the Derby trail, they face a key test with key equipment changes Thursday at Santa Anita. Baffert expects the changes to produce improvement in a one-mile allowance at Santa Anita.

Bayern, a highly rated maiden sprint winner, takes blinkers off. The objective is to ration his speed second time out, first time long.

Tap It Rich won his fall debut impressively at one mile, followed by two losses in which he did not corner well. Tap It Rich will use a new bit and add blinkers with an outside extension. The objective is to turn left, not lug out.

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

Both colts are works in progress. A confident Baffert stated: “I think they are both pretty good.”

Bayern and Tap It Rich, likely favorites, face four others Thursday – Brother Soldier, Papa’s Paisley, Baranof, and Flagman. Baffert’s pair return following January interruptions.

“They got sick the same day,” Baffert said. “I had to treat them, but they didn’t really [miss much]. It was just a few days.”

Bayern won his debut at seven furlongs Jan. 4. Under Gary Stevens, he dueled for the lead and drew off while earning a 92 Beyer Speed Figure. The race was legitimate – the fifth- and sixth-place finishers (Hoppertunity, El Nino Terrible) returned to win.

Although it was a promising debut by Bayern, neither Baffert nor Stevens were entirely satisfied.

“He still won, but Gary said he was keen,” Baffert said. “He was a little sharp early. The whole key is to get them to shut down a little bit during the race.”

One way to slow down a horse is to remove equipment that initially caused a horse to speed up.

“We took blinkers off for this race,” Baffert said. “I think that will help him a lot.”

Permission from stewards is required for blinker changes after a win. Baffert got the okay when Bayern worked six furlongs from the gate Feb. 6. His workmate was Tap It Rich.

“They were heads up the whole way; they just cruised around there together,” Baffert said. “They went out seventh-eighths and galloped out real strong.”

The workout success for Tap It Rich is that he stayed on his path. Tap It Rich had developed a habit of wanting to go straight on the turn, to the outside rather than left.

“We changed his equipment to the right kind of bit and put an extension blinker on the outside, so he can’t see what’s going on outside of him,” Baffert said.

So far so good.

“He doesn’t have his head turned,” Baffert said. “He’s actually behaving himself. He’s taking the turns very, very well.”

The new bit is less severe than the bit Tap It Rich used training for and racing in the Grade 1 CashCall Futurity. He got rank and finished next to last.

“We went from one extreme to another, and I think it was too much bit for him,” Baffert said. “The new bit is not severe. He doesn’t need anything severe. It’s a mental thing.”

Regular rider Mike Smith has been working Tap It Rich. “Mike feels pretty good about him,” Baffert said. “We’re getting his mind right. This will be a good test.”