Louisville, KY (SportsNetwork.com) – Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Bayern tops
a list of 20 thoroughbreds who have been nominated to Churchill Downs’
$500,000 Clark Handicap to be run the day after Thanksgiving Day.
Won last year by Will Take Charge, the Clark is conducted at 1 1/8 miles on
Churchill’s main track.
Trained by Bob Baffert, Bayern led the entire way in winning the $5 million
Classic at Santa Anita on Saturday, Nov. 1. The 3-year-old colt, however, did
have to overcome a stewards’ inquiry into the start of the 1 1/4-mile race.
“If the stewards had not posted the inquiry, there would not have been one,”
Baffert said. “Mike Smith (who rode Shared Belief) wasn’t going to (claim
foul). He said all the trouble happened a little later when the 9 (Toast of
New York) came over and by that time, my horse was already gone.
“It’s not like he is a fluke. He can do it all and he’s a fighter. You could
tell he was not going to let that other horse (Toast of New York) by.”
Bayern, owned by Kaleem Shah, has won six of his 10 career starts, all this
season, and has banked $4,389,680. His wins include the Woody Stephens,
Haskell and Pennsylvania Derby. He was first under the wire in the Derby Trial
at Churchill on April 26, but was disqualified to second for interference.
Shah is looking to have Bayern race as a 4-year-old in 2015.
“If he is healthy, I would like (to take a shot at) the Dubai World Cup. When
Bob tells me he is ready to roll, we roll. As long as he stays healthy and
sound, he’ll run at 4, 5 and 6,” Shah said.
Also nominated to the Clark are Florida Derby winner Constitution, Fayette
Stakes runner-up Departing, Santa Anita Derby runner-up Hoppertunity, West
Virginia Derby winner Tapiture and Zivo, second in the Jockey Club Gold Cup.
