SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Baeza was close to Sovereignty in the Kentucky Derby, but not so much in the Belmont Stakes.
Over the last month, trainer John Shirreffs has changed Baeza’s training somewhat in hopes of getting him sharper and more aggressive when he faces Sovereignty in potentially two spots here this summer beginning with Saturday’s Grade 2, $500,000 Jim Dandy Stakes at Saratoga.
Baeza drew the rail and Sovereignty got post 5 for the Jim Dandy, a 1 1/8-mile race that serves as the local prep for the Grade 1, $1.25 million Travers on Aug. 23. The Jim Dandy field also includes Arkansas Derby winner Sandman, Ohio Derby winner Mo Plex, and Peter Pan winner Hill Road in posts 2 through 4, respectively.
Baeza arrived in Saratoga on Saturday night following a flight from California. On Friday, Baeza worked five furlongs in 59.80 seconds by himself at Santa Anita which followed a series of quick drills that were done in company and with purpose.
“We’ve really been focused on keeping him focused and engaged,” Shirreffs said Sunday before boarding a flight from San Diego bound for New York. “We worked him in company, except for his last work. He’s worked in company and that helps him a lot. Surprisingly, his last work, he worked really well and he worked by himself. He’s come a long way as far as being aggressive in his works.”
Baeza was beaten 1 3/4 lengths by Sovereignty in the Kentucky Derby, breaking from the outside post in the 19-horse field and rallying from 15th to finish third, a neck behind Journalism for second. Baeza, like Sovereignty, skipped the Preakness to await the Belmont Stakes. Sent off the third choice at 7-2 in the Belmont, Baeza was never a threat, sitting sixth of eight early before finishing third, beaten 6 1/2 lengths by Sovereignty.
“Where he’s placed isn’t as concerning as if he’s engaged, at least taking a little bit of hold of the bit,” Shirreffs said. “[Flavien] Prat had a hard time in the Belmont really getting him engaged in the race.”
Prat will be in California on Saturday, riding Nysos in the San Diego Stakes at Del Mar. Baeza will be reunited with Hector Berrios, who rode Baeza three times, including his maiden victory and a runner-up finish to Journalism in the Santa Anita Derby.
Berrios has been aboard Baeza for several of his recent workouts.
“He’s been really happy with him, every time he’s worked him, he thought he went a little bit better,” Shirreffs said.
The Jim Dandy will go as race 10 on a 12-race card that also includes the Grade 3, $175,000 Lake George for 3-year-old fillies on turf. Classic Q, Play With Fire and Lavender Disaster, the top three finishers from the Wild Applause Stakes here last month, head that 10-horse field.
Also on the card is an allowance race featuring the seasonal debut of Arthur’s Ride, the Grade 1 Whitney Stakes winner in 2024. He has not raced since finishing 12th in last November’s Breeders’ Cup Classic.
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