Baeza, third in the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes this spring, is under consideration for leading stakes at Del Mar, Monmouth Park, or Saratoga this summer. On Friday, Baeza was jogged at Santa Anita, his first day of racetrack exercise since returning from Saratoga on Tuesday. In the Belmont Stakes last Saturday, Baeza finished third by 6 3/4 lengths behind Sovereignty and Journalism. In the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on May 3, Baeza was third by 1 3/4 lengths behind those same rivals. Trainer John Shirreffs said Baeza handled the journey from California to Saratoga in good shape. His weight held steady at 1,059 pounds, Shirreffs said. “When he came back, we weighed him and he weighed the same as he did going into the Belmont,” Shirreffs said. :: Playing Santa Anita? Get the most trusted data and information in horse racing! DRF Past Performances, Picks, and Clocker Reports available now. Owned by Lee and Susan Searing, Baeza has won once in six starts and has earned $848,800. Shirreffs said on Friday that Grade 1 races such as the $1 million Haskell Invitational for 3-year-olds at 1 1/8 miles at Monmouth Park on July 19, the $1.25 million Travers Stakes for 3-year-olds at 1 1/4 miles at Saratoga on Aug. 23, or the $1 million Pacific Classic for 3-year-olds and older horses at 1 1/4 miles at Del Mar on Aug. 30 are under consideration. “As we get closer, we’ll make a decision,” Shirreffs said. The Haskell “comes up kind of quickly,” Shirreffs said. “If he gets into a work schedule and he’s training brilliantly, you might choose a race sooner. If he needs more to reenergize, you might take more time. The horse tells you.” Shirreffs said he believes Baeza is capable of a big-race win. He was beaten three-quarters of a length when second to Journalism in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby on April 5 and closed well in the Kentucky Derby. In the Belmont, Baeza followed a slower pace and rallied wide to finish third. “He hasn’t had things go his way 100 percent,” Shirreffs said. “Maybe next time, he will.” :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.