Instead of During in the Wood, Baffert said he will saddle Robert and Beverly Lewis' recent purchase Senor Swinger for the nine-furlong event. Senor Swinger, During and Carter Handicap (gr. I) probable Congaree are all expected to leave for New York on Wednesday.Senor Swinger broke his maiden at Hawthorne last year by more than 6 lengths and dead-heated in a non-winners "other than" allowance with Ten Cents a Shine in his sophomore debut at Gulfstream Park in January before finishing fifth in the Florida Derby (gr. I). Baffert purchased the gray son of El Prado for the Lewis' from Bob Ackerman and Barry Golden for an undisclosed sum last week.
James McIngvale's During will make his next start in the seven-furlong Bay Shore Stakes (gr. III) on Apr. 12 and not the Wood Memorial Stakes (gr. I), trainer Bob Baffert said. The son of Cherokee Run won a one-mile allowance/optional claiming race on March 12, prompting Baffert to consider the Wood as a possible step toward the May 3 Kentucky Derby (gr. I).During worked seven furlongs in 1:26 1/5 at Santa Anita on Wednesday. The Kentucky bred has won two of his four career starts, with a second to Santa Anita Derby (gr. I) favorite Atswhatimtalknbout, for earnings of $74,560.