Justin Squared, Cupid Rep Baffert at Belmont

It's a far cry from the high-pressure hours before the Belmont Stakes (gr. I) for Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert.

Twelve months removed from the race that shook the Belmont Park rafters when his American Pharoah   galloped down the stretch to Triple Crown greatness, the white-haired horseman will be represented by Justin Squared and Cupid in two races on the June 11 undercard.

Baffert flew into town to participate in a question-and-answer session for fans with Zayat Stables, owners of both American Pharoah and Justin Squared. He was not, however, scheduled to remain in New York on Belmont Stakes day, and will leave his runners in the capable hands of main assistant Jimmy Barnes.

Nothing will come close to the thrill of collaborating for the first Triple Crown win in 37 years, but for the Zayats and Baffert, Justin Squared has been an exciting new contender. The 3-year-old son of Zensational remains undefeated in three starts and steps up to graded competition for the first time in the $500,000 Woody Stephens Stakes (gr. I).

"He's ridiculously fast," said Baffert, who also conditioned the colt's three-time grade I-winning sire for the Zayats. "He has got a big, long stride and is a powerful horse. He's fun to watch, but he's a handful, just like his sire."

Justin Squared cleared maiden and allowance conditions with ease, and in his stakes debut won the May 21 Chick Lang Stakes going six furlongs at Pimlico Race Course by two lengths over Counterforce, who will take another run at him in the seven-furlong Woody Stephens. Justin Squared tuned up for the Woody Stephens with a four-furlong move June 5 in :47 2/5 at Santa Anita Park.

BALAN: Justin Squared Speeds to Chick Lang Victory

"He's worked well," Baffert said. "When he came back and worked well after shipping (to Baltimore), we thought we'd send him for this one. He's really fast and we're just hoping that his speed carries him."

With regular rider Martin Pedroza in the irons from post 4, Justin Squared will tangle with Pat Day Mile (gr. III) winner Sharp Azteca, for sure a lethal foe if he runs back to his May 7 performance at Churchill Downs. The Freud   colt has been called "one of the best 3-year-olds in the nation" by trainer Jorge Navarro, for whom he has won his last three races.

The Pat Day Mile was his stakes debut, and this start will be his first at the grade II level. He has Joe Bravo in the irons from the rail.

LAMARRA: Sharp Azteca Blazes Home in Pat Day Mile

There are 13 entered in the Woody Stephens, and among those of interest are Tom's Ready, who exits a 12th-place finish in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) for a drastic cutback in distance; May 14 Lazaro Barrera Stakes (gr. III) winner I Will Score shipping in from California; and the runner-up from that race, Mrazek, also in from the West Coast.

The $150,000 Easy Goer has a much shorter field for Baffert's entrant to challenge, and that suits him just fine with Cupid. After beginning the year on the Kentucky Derby trail and altering plans after a disappointing 10th-place finish in the Arkansas Derby (gr. I), the striking gray Tapit   colt returns against four others for his first start after that off-the-board finish and following throat surgery for an entrapped epiglottis.

"I would have liked to have run in the Belmont, but I lost time with him after his throat surgery," Baffert said. "We had to stop on him and couldn't do anything with him for three weeks. He has been training well and we'll see what he does."

Cupid, who won the Rebel Stakes (gr. II) at Oaklawn Park for Michael Tabor, Susan Magnier, and Derrick Smith before entering the Arkansas Derby as the 4-5 post time favorite, is favored again at odds of 3-5 in the Easy Goer. He will depart from post 2 with Florent Geroux aboard.

The 7-2 second choice on the morning line is Klaravich Stables' William Lawerence's Economic Model. Trained by Chad Brown, the son of Flatter   has two wins from four starts will look to build off his four-length optional-claiming victory on an off track at Belmont May 4. Economic Model and jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. will leave from post 5.

The opening race on Belmont Stakes day, the Easy Goer is the first of 10 stakes races on a Saturday card highlighted by the $1.5 million Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets.