Sprint champ Drefong nearing return

Drefong is just about set to return to action. The champion male sprinter of 2016 has been idle since his victory in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint, but he is scheduled to make his first start of the year in the Grade 1, $300,000 Bing Crosby Stakes on July 29, for which he tuned up with a sharp six-furlong work in 1:11.40 on Wednesday morning.

“Now he’s ready,” his trainer, Bob Baffert, said after Drefong’s drill. Drefong worked in company with Lord Simba, and Baffert said he may run both in the six-furlong Crosby.

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Baffert said Drefong will have two races – the Crosby and Grade 1 Ancient Title at Santa Anita – before a defense of his Breeders’ Cup title Nov. 4 at Del Mar.

Baffert also worked a couple of females for upcoming stakes starts.

The older mare Vale Dori went five furlongs in 59.60 seconds, preparing for a rematch with champion Stellar Wind in the Grade 1, $300,000 Clement Hirsch Stakes on July 30. Stellar Wind was first and Vale Dori second in the Grade 1 Beholder Mile at Santa Anita on June 3.

The 2-year-old filly Diamondsandpearls, a $1.7 million auction buy who won her debut July 2 at Santa Anita, worked five furlongs in company in 1:00.80 as she gears up for the Grade 2, $200,000 Sorrento Stakes on Aug. 5.