Baeza, who has finished second or third behind top 3-year-old Sovereignty in his last three starts, continued his progress toward a scheduled start in the Grade 1 Pennsylvania Derby at Parx Racing on Sept. 20 with a five-furlong workout in 59.40 seconds at Del Mar on Friday.
Baeza worked alone and had one of the quicker times of the morning at that distance.
“Usually he doesn’t work that well by himself,” trainer John Shirreffs said. “He looked good today.”
Baeza, owned by Lee and Susan Searing’s CRK Stable, was held out of Saturday’s Grade 1 Pacific Classic at Del Mar in favor of the $1 million Pennsylvania Derby at 1 1/8 miles.
In seven starts, Baeza has won once, a maiden race at Santa Anita in February, and has since finished second to Journalism in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby in April, third behind Sovereignty in the Kentucky Derby on May 3 and Belmont Stakes at Saratoga on June 7, and second by a length to Sovereignty in the Grade 2 Jim Dandy Stakes at Saratoga on July 26.
Nevada Beach, unraced since a win in the $125,000 Los Alamitos Derby on June 28 in his only loss in three starts, worked five furlongs in 59.80 seconds on Friday. Trainer Bob Baffert said on Friday that he does not have a specified race goal for Nevada Beach.
“I’m getting him going again,” he said.
Nevada Beach has had four workouts since July 21.
Roll On Big Joe, winner of the Grade 3 Kelly’s Landing Stakes at Churchill Downs on June 28, but fifth in the Grade 1 Bing Crosby Stakes at Del Mar on July 26, worked five furlongs in a rapid 59.20 seconds on Friday.
Trainer Bob Hess, Jr., wrote in a text message that he plans to run Roll On Big Joe in the $300,000 Louisville Thoroughbred Society Stakes at six furlongs at Churchill Downs on Sept. 13.
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