Baffert Has Options for During, Needs Rider

James McIngvale's Swaps Stakes (gr. II) hero During will likely make his next start in either the $1 million Haskell Invitational Handicap (gr.I) at Monmouth Park on Aug. 3, the $500,000 Jim Dandy Stakes (gr. II) at Saratoga on the same day or the $600,000 West Virginia Derby at Mountaineer Park on Aug. 9, trainer Bob Baffert said.

All three races are for sophomores at nine furlongs on the main track.

The son of Cherokee Run, with regular exercise rider Dana Barnes in the irons, worked a half-mile in :48 2/5 over a fast main track at Del Mar Wednesday morning in his first serious effort since upsetting the Swaps Stakes at odds of more than 8-1 at Hollywood Park on July 13.

"He's doing awesome right now," Baffert said. "We're looking at all
three races, but I don't know which one he'll go in yet."

During, who earned his first stakes victory in the Swaps, has banked $345,670 from a record of 8-3-2-1. He also finished second in the Sir Barton Stakes at Pimlico in May and third in the Northern Dancer Stakes at Churchill Downs last month.

"We just need to find him a jockey," Baffert said, referring to the fact
that Jerry Bailey, who was aboard During in the Swaps, is the regular rider for many of the East Coast based runners already set to run in all three events.