Pa. Derby: Baeza leads at least 10 probables next Saturday

At least 10 horses led by Baeza, Gosger and Goal Oriented are expected to be entered Monday for next Saturday’s Grade 1, $1 million Pennsylvania Derby at Parx.

The updated list of probables for the 1 1/8-mile race was reported Friday evening in a social-media post.

“Looking at field of 10 to 12 horses for the Grade 1 Pa. Derby,” Parx official John DaSilva wrote on X. “Fact and Tip Top Thomas aren’t going, but add Altobelli, David of Athens, Nevada Beach and So Sandy to the probables along with Baeza, Big Truzz, Goal Oriented, Gosger, Magnitude and Mo Plex.”

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Chunk of Gold was considered no better than possible for next Saturday, because the West Virginia Derby (G3) winner was entered for the black-type, $250,000 St. Louis Derby.

“With Chunk of Gold drawing post 11 at Fairmount Park for the St. Louis Derby on Friday night, (that) could that affect the decision (trainer) Ethan West makes on where he will run next,” DaSilva said.

Chunk of Gold also was cross-centered into the $300,000 Bourbon Flight Stakes next Saturday at Churchill Downs.

Baeza, a maiden winner for trainer John Shirreffs, was third in the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes before coming back with a runner-up finish in the Jim Dandy (G2) last out July 26 at Saratoga. Division leader Sovereignty won all three races.

Gosger, a Nyquist colt who won the Lexington (G3) on April 12, placed second for trainer Brendan Walsh in the Preakness and the Haskell (G1).

Bob Baffert trains Goal Oriented, whose 4: 2-0-1 record has been built since April. The colt sired by Not This Time followed two early wins with a fourth in the Preakness and a third in the Haskell.

Magnitude faded to finish 20 3/4 lengths up the track in third Aug. 23 in the 1 1/4-mile Travers (G1). Trained by Steve Asmussen, the Not This Time colt won by nine-plus lengths in both the Risen Star (G2) and the listed Iowa Derby on either side of a 4 1/2-month break.

Mo Plex, a Complexity colt trained by Jeremiah Englehart, stumbled out of the gate, set the pace and withered to a distant fourth in the Jim Dandy, his most recent start.

So Sandy had two wins before placing second in the restricted Curlin Stakes on July 24 at Saratoga. The Omaha Beach colt from the Cherie DeVaux stable began his career with four off-the-board finishes.

Nevada Beach, a Baffert-trained colt by Omaha Beach, won last out by 4 1/4 lengths June 28 in the listed Los Alamitos Derby. He has raced only three times, including a second in the listed Affirmed Stakes.

Big Truzz, a Justify colt trained by Brian Lynch, won by seven lengths Aug. 10 in the one-mile Ellis Park Derby.

David of Athens, a Nyquist colt in Walsh’s barn, finished first by 7 1/4 lengths July 20 in a $102,000 allowance mile at Ellis Park.

Altobelli, an Authentic colt who has raced on dirt and turf, missed the board in his last five starts including three last-place finishes for trainer James Nicholson Jr.

The Pennsylvania Derby highlights Parx’s stakes-rich card next Saturday when the $1 million Cotillion (G1) for 3-year-old fillies also will be run.

Horse Racing Nation speed figures are in parentheses. Asterisks mean preliminary figure may be updated.