Chitu and Bayern , two possible starters in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) for Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert, breezed a half-mile at Churchill Downs April 21 as they continue preparations for the May 3 classic.
With jockey Joel Rosario aboard, Chitu started the work three-quarters of a length in front of his stablemate who had Rosie Napravnik in the saddle. According to Churchill clockers, the pair went four furlongs in :47 3/5. The pair had fractional splits of :12, :23 4/5, and :35 3/5 for three-eighths of a mile. Bayern then galloped out five furlongs in 1:00 1/5 and six furlongs in 1:13 2/5. Chitu had a gallop-out time of 1:01 for five furlongs.
Jim Barnes, assistant to trainer Bob Baffert, said the works went well and that Baffert would arrive in Louisville on April 23.
Tanma Corporation's Chitu, a son of Henny Hughes--Sea Gift, by A.P. Indy, purchased for $300,000 at the 2013 Ocala Breeders' Sales Co.'s March 2-year-olds in training sale, is 12th on the Derby points list with 54. In his only loss in four starts, Chitu was a game second to Derby possible Candy Boy in the Robert B. Lewis Stakes (gr. II) before winning the Sunland Derby (gr. III) in his most recent start.
Bayern, a 3-year-old colt by Offlee Wild--Alittlebitearly, by Thunder Gulch, ranks 24th on the Derby Points list with 20 and would need several defections for him to draw into the 20-horse limit Derby field. The Kaleem Shah-owned colt who was purchased for $320,000 at the 2013 Fasig-Tipton Midlantic sale of 2-year-olds in training finished third in the Arkansas Derby (gr. I).
Baffert's third Derby hopeful Rebel Stakes (gr. II) winner Hoppertunity was slated to arrive at Churchill Downs from Southern California the afternoon of April 21. Owned by Karl Watson, Mike Pegram and Paul Weitman, the colt by Any Given Saturday--Refugee, by Unaccounted For, finished second in the April 5 Santa Anita Derby (gr. I). He is seventh on the Derby points list with 95 points.
