Bayern, 'Pharoah Post Smooth Final BC Works

Trainer Bob Baffert indicated he liked what he saw from Bayern and American Pharoah after they both worked five furlongs Oct. 26 at Santa Anita Park in preparation for the Breeders' Cup World Championships.

Kaleem Shah's Bayern, pre-entered for the $5 million Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I) Nov. 1, was clocked in :59 4/5, seventh swiftest of 55 to work the distance during the morning. Baffert timed his gallop-out in 1:12 3/5 for six furlongs.

The speedy 3-year-old Offlee Wild   colt was positioned outside of workmate American Pride (1:00 1/5) and pulled away near the end. On Oct. 20 Bayern worked six furlongs in 1:12 1/5 at Santa Anita.

"It was a good work," Baffert said. "It was just what he needed. Now, it's about the (post-position) draw."

The winner of the Pennsylvania Derby (gr. II) Sept. 20 has won three of his past four starts, including the William Hill Haskell Invitational Stakes (gr. I) earlier in the summer. He was won five of nine career starts while earning $1,639,680.

Zayat Stables' American Pharoah, the probable favorite for the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (gr. I), which is also Nov. 1, worked five furlongs in 1:00 with a gallop-out in 1:12 3/5. The 2-year-old Pioneerof the Nile   colt, who clicked off even fractions throughout, raced inside of workmate Lamu (1:01 2/5) and pulled away with ease.

"It was perfect," Baffert said. "He does it so effortlessly."

Baffert again said the post-position draw, to be held Oct. 27, is key to both horses as they prefer to race on the lead. "There's no point talking about the race until we see where they draw," the trainer said.

American Pharoah, 2-for-3 lifetime, won a pair of grade I races in September, the Del Mar Futurity and, most recently, the FrontRunner at Santa Anita.