Baeza, the Santa Anita Derby runner-up who needs several defections to make it into the Kentucky Derby field, will ship to Churchill Downs and be entered, at the very least, as an also-eligible for the race, trainer John Shirreffs said Thursday.
The Thoroughbred Daily News reported the change in plans Wednesday night.
Shirreffs had previously said he would only ship Baeza if he was guaranteed to get into the field. But Shirreffs said owner Lee Searing of C R K Stable, co-owners of Baeza along with Grandview Equine, wanted to ship. If Baeza doesn’t get in, the idea would then be to run him in the Preakness on May 17.
“He thought if we got close, it’ll be worthwhile going,” Shirreffs said Thursday. “He wants to bring his family and enjoy it if it happens.”
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As of Thursday, Baeza ranked 24th on the qualifying points list. The Derby field is limited to 20 horses, but 24 are permitted to enter when entries close and post positions are assigned the night of April 26. The horses on the also-eligible list can draw into the field up until the morning before the race.
The horses not in the field but with more Derby points than Baeza are Built, Neoequos, and Render Judgment. Of that trio, only the connections of Neoequos have firmly stated their desire to run in the Derby.
Due to the requirement that horses entered in the Kentucky Derby be on the grounds by 11 a.m. on April 26, Shirreffs said he intends to ship Baeza to Kentucky on April 24. That would enable the horse to have a few mornings on the track before getting one breeze in over the surface.
After debuting on turf at Del Mar last December, Baeza finished second to Rodriguez in a maiden race at Santa Anita before winning one by 4 3/4 lengths on Feb. 14. Most recently, Baeza finished second to Journalism in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby. Journalism is expected to be the favorite for the Kentucky Derby.
“He came out of the [Santa Anita] Derby really well,” Shirreffs said. “He breezed an easy half [in 50 seconds on Monday]. He looks good, everything’s good. He’s handling his training.”
It is expected that Flavien Prat would ride Baeza should he get into the race.
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