Baffert confirms Uncle Chuck to next week's Travers

After previously saying he probably would ship Uncle Chuck to the Grade 1 Travers Stakes at Saratoga on Aug. 8, instead of the Aug. 1 Shared Belief at Del Mar, trainer Bob Baffert confirmed to Horse Racing Nation on Tuesday that he had finalized his plan.

“Travers,” Baffert said in a text message.

Baffert had entered the son of Uncle Mo in the Shared Belief, just in case unforeseen circumstances arose, he said in a radio appearance with Thoroughbred Los Angeles on Sunday.

“I’m really leaning to the Travers,” Baffert said in the appearance. “I really want to give him a run. You know, the Travers is a very important race and a great race to have on his resume. If he can beat a horse like Tiz the Law or run near, you’ll realize he has a chance in the Kentucky Derby.”

The colt will face stiff competition in the $1 million Travers, as Tiz the Law, who most recently won the Belmont Stakes, and Country Grammer, winner of the Peter Pan (G3), also are expected to be in the field.

Uncle Chuck, who won the Los Alamitos Derby (G3) in his last start, worked on Sunday, going six furlongs in 1:12.2 at Del Mar. The Travers will be the entire field's first trip at 1 1/4 miles.