Bayern, an impressive 15-length allowance winner last time out for trainer Bob Baffert, will miss the March 8 San Felipe Stakes (gr. II) at Santa Anita Park due to a bruised quarter, the Hall of Fame horseman confirmed March 6.
"Bayern out of San Felipe," Baffert said via his Twitter account, @midnightlute. "Bruised inside quarter. Was looking forward to seeing him run Saturday. Be OK soon."
The 3-year-old son of Offlee Wild broke his maiden easily for owner Kaleem Shah at first asking going seven furlongs at Santa Anita on Jan. 4, then returned to take on winners in a one-mile, first-level allowance Feb. 13. He trounced four others by 15 lengths with a wire-to-wire roll and was to have made his stakes debut while stretching out in the 1 1/16-mile San Felipe in pursuit of points on the road to the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I).
Bayern was considered by many to be the horse to beat in this Santa Anita Derby (gr. I) prep (March 5 full preview here). A $320,000 buy from the Eddie Woods consignment at last May's Fasig-Tipton Midlantic 2-year-olds in training sale, he is the third winner from as many to race out of the Thunder Gulch mare Alittlebitearly.
