Bob Baffert will have two chances at winning the Woody Stephens (G1) and collecting his second straight triumph in the June 8 race at Saratoga Race Course.
Baffert won last year with Arabian Lion .
Because of renovations at Belmont Park, the Belmont Stakes (G1) and the last leg of the Triple Crown’s undercard have been relocated to upstate New York.
Baffert’s Prince of Monaco hits the Spa track as the morning-line favorite despite having not raced since running fifth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1). Prior to that, he had won his first three starts including the Del Mar Futurity (G1).
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“Coming off a layoff it’s tough. It would have been nice to get a race into him, but I feel good,” Baffert said. “He’s a top-caliber horse. He’s a really talented colt.”
Noting the Speightstown colt’s six-furlong work in 1:11 1/5 June 1, Baffert said, “He worked really well and after Saturday, I think he’s ready for that. It’s going to be tough. It’s an exciting race. It’s one turn and I think that’s what he wants to do.”
The Hall of Fame trainer’s other trainee is a dark horse candidate to win the seven-furlong, $500,000 contest.
Imagination didn’t get the trip he would have liked in the Preakness Stakes (G1), stalking the lead before fading down the stretch. But the Into Mischief colt had previously finished second in the Santa Anita Derby (G1) and was victorious in the San Felipe Stakes (G2), proving he has the goods.
It was the lack of finish in the Preakness that prompted Baffert to cut back in distance.
“I probably could have run him in the Belmont, but the race didn’t go like we sort of thought it would go last time. He’s probably more of a miler, so we backed him up,” said Baffert. “I didn’t feel comfortable running him a mile and a quarter after that effort last time. We learned a lot about him from that race and I think we’ve just got to use different tactics.”
Both Prince of Monaco and Imagination are owned by SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Stonestreet Stables, Diane Bashor, Robert Masterson, Waves Edge Capital, Catherine Donovan, and Tom Ryan.
Part of the 12-horse field is Atlantic Six Racing’s Book’em Danno . The gelded son of Bucchero last raced Feb. 24 in the Saudi Derby (G3) where he finished second by a head. It was a rare occasion where the 3-year-old failed to make it to the winner’s circle, a place he’s visited all but twice in six starts.
“We deliberately gave him the time off for a summer campaign. We won’t over-race him and hopefully we can get back out to the desert next year,” trainer Derek Ryan said. “This is a logical spot coming off that race and we are good to go. I’m not really worried about what the others do. I’ll leave it up to (jockey Irad Ortiz Jr.).”
Rounding out the field are Barksdale , Be You , Frost Free , Maximus Meridius , Nash , Nutella Fella , Reasoned Analysis , Valentine Candy , and Vlahos .
Entries: Woody Stephens S. Presented by Mohegan Sun (G1)
Saratoga Race Course, Saturday, June 08, 2024, Race 8
- Grade I
- 7f
- Dirt
- $500,000
- 3 yo
- 3:22 PM (local)
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