Santa Anita notes: Bayern could step up to San Felipe next

ARCADIA, Calif. – Bayern could make his stakes debut in the $300,000 San Felipe Stakes on March 8 after a 15-length win in an allowance race Thursday at Santa Anita.

Trainer Bob Baffert said Friday that he will make a final decision on Bayern’s participation in the San Felipe in coming weeks.

“I’ll either run in the San Felipe, or skip it and wait for the Santa Anita Derby,” Baffert said. “He’s happy. He looked good after the race.”

The Grade 2 San Felipe is run over 1 1/16 miles and is a prep race for the $1 million Santa Anita Derby over 1 1/8 miles April 5.

Owned by Kaleem Shah, Bayern is unbeaten in two starts. Thursday, Bayern won his first start around two turns in a one-mile race, leading throughout. Ridden by Gary Stevens, Bayern led by a head through the first half-mile and pulled away from four rivals at the end of the backstretch. Bayern led by five lengths on the turn and 11 with a furlong remaining.

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

By Offlee Wild, Bayern finished in 1:35.77 and earned a Beyer Speed figure of 98.

“As fast as he is, he’ll get things his own way,” Baffert said.

Baffert finished 1-2 in the allowance race, with Tap It Rich finishing second. The allowance race was the first start for Tap It Rich since he finished 11th of 12 after showing rank behavior in the $751,500 CashCall Futurity at Hollywood Park on Dec. 14.

Secret Circle works

Secret Circle, winner of the Breeders’ Cup Sprint in November, worked a half-mile in 48.60 seconds Friday.

Baffert said that Secret Circle remains a candidate for the $2 million Golden Shaheen for sprinters over six furlongs in Dubai on March 29.

Friday’s workout was the first for Secret Circle since he finished second to Wild Dude in the Grade 2 Palos Verdes Stakes over six furlongs here Feb. 2.