ARCADIA, Calif. – California-based Baeza is not in the Kentucky Derby field yet, but he is getting close. Saturday morning at Santa Anita, trainer John Shirreffs outlined plans to train Baeza toward the Run for the Roses.
Baeza earned 37.5 Derby points finishing second to Journalism on April 5 in the five-runner Santa Anita Derby. It’s not enough to make the Kentucky Derby field. At least not yet. As of April 12, Baeza ranks 24th on the Derby points list. Only 20 can start. Shirreffs prefers not shipping to Kentucky if Baeza is on the also-eligible list.
“It’s just not a fun way to do it,” Shirreffs said. “You’d like to know you’re in it.”
Baeza is almost in. Three ranked directly above him on the Derby points list – Built, Neoequos, and Render Judgment – have not been ruled out of the Derby, but they are considering other options. If they pull out, Baeza would make the field with one additional defection.
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Baeza, runner-up to Journalism in the Santa Anita Derby while earning a career-best 101 Beyer Speed Figure, bounced out of his three-quarter-length defeat in top shape.
Shirreffs said Baeza lost only six pounds in the Santa Anita Derby – he weighs 1,081 pounds – and has resumed galloping at Santa Anita. Shirreffs will adjust the workout schedule for Baeza and train him for the Kentucky Derby. “You have to plan to go,” Shirreffs said.
Under normal circumstances, Shirreffs would work Baeza two weeks after a race. But if runs in the Kentucky Derby, Baeza must be at Churchill Downs one week before the May 3 race. Shirreffs will tinker with Baeza’s work schedule. “I’m going to move his work up a little bit to get him on the schedule I want in order to ship and work at Churchill Downs.”
Shirreffs tentatively plans to work Baeza on April 16 at Santa Anita, and once more at Santa Anita before he ships. “For us, the big decision day comes on the 24th, because that’s when he has to ship,” Shirreffs said.
“You’d like to work a week out, but you have to be there a week out,” Shirreffs said. Kentucky Derby runners must be at Churchill Downs one week before the race. Shirreffs would ship Baeza early. “You need a couple days for the horse to ship in, get accustomed to the racetrack, and then work.”
If he makes the field, which is increasingly likely, Baeza would ship April 24, have a day or two to familiarize himself with the Churchill Downs surface, and post his final workout the weekend of April 26-27, six or seven days in front of the Kentucky Derby.
Baeza, sired by McKinzie, is a half-brother to the 2023 Kentucky Derby winner Mage, and 2024 Belmont Stakes winner Dornoch. Each start by Baeza has been better than the start before, including a runner-up finish in the Santa Anita Derby. Perhaps with a different trip, Baeza could have upset Journalism, the early Kentucky Derby favorite.
Shirreffs said Baeza got a “little keen” early in the Santa Anita Derby before he finally settled on the backside. “If he settles sooner, he could have waited a little longer, and not go to the lead quite as early.”
Despite his relative inexperience, the Santa Anita Derby was just his fourth career start and first after a maiden victory, Baeza earned the third-highest figure this year by a Kentucky Derby candidate. Journalism earned a 108 Beyer winning the San Felipe Stakes and 102 in the Santa Anita Derby. Baeza earned 101 finishing second in the Santa Anita Derby; Rodriguez earned 101 winning the Wood Memorial at Aqueduct.
Owned by CRK Stable and Grandview Equine, Baeza has won one of four starts and earned $148,500. Baeza currently is the seventh choice on the Daily Racing Form Derby Watch Top 20. DRF linemaker David Aragona lists Baeza at 15-1. Journalism, the early favorite, is 3-1.
– additional reporting by David Grening
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