Report: Baffert could have 3 runners at Saratoga

Bob Baffert is expected to ship three colts to Saratoga for next week’s Belmont Stakes racing festival.

Thoroughbred Daily News reported that 3-year-old Imagination and Prince of Monaco are pointed to the Grade 1 Woody Stephens. National Treasure is slated to run in the Met Mile (G1).

Imagination, an Into Mischief colt, was seventh in the Preakness last out. Prince of Monaco, sired by Speightstown, hasn’t raced since finishing fifth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile.

National Treasure would make his first start since finishing fourth in the Saudi Cup (G1) in February. Before that, the 4-year-old Quality Road colt won the Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1).

Baffert told TDN that all three were scheduled to work Friday or Saturday at Santa Anita. If all goes well, he said, they would be shipped to Saratoga on Sunday.

Baffert said Imagination was rank in the Preakness, perhaps because of the muddy track. It was the first time he finished worse than second in seven career races.

He told TDN that he would have liked Prince of Monaco to have had another start since the Breeders’ Cup but that he had been working well.

Baffert also told TDN that Muth, scratched from the Preakness because of a fever, continues to recover at Santa Anita and was on the track Wednesday.