Baffert ‘holding out’ hope with Collected’s Breeders’ Cup fate

Last year’s Breeders’ Cup Classic runner-up, Collected, wound up fourth of five on a list of horses outside the prospective field for this year’s race when pre-entries were announced Wednesday. But trainer Bob Baffert said he’s “holding out” on forming any backup plans.

“Right now we’re just thinking Breeders’ Cup,” said Baffert, who also plans to saddle 3-year-old McKinzie and older horse West Coast in the $6 million Classic. “He’s been training — I could have run him here this week. There’s a little overnight stakes,” meaning the $75,000 Comma to the Top at a mile at Santa Anita Park.

“But I’m holding out. We’re just going to hold out, and we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it.”

RELATED: Breeders' Cup Classic puzzle coming together

Baffert said an equine flight from California to Kentucky leaves Tuesday of next week, a day after final entries are taken for the Classic. So he won’t have to fret shipping without a race to run. Until then, he’ll await any potential defections.

“We need some movement to get in,” the Hall of Fame trainer said. “A lot of things can happen in a week. We’ve seen it in the Derby. You can be No. 24, and the next thing you know, you’re No. 20.”

Collected, a 5-year-old by City Zip, is out of the Classic’s main body due to making just two starts this year. He faded after setting the early pace in last January’s Pegasus World Cup, then went to the sidelines for a freshening until returning Sept. 22 to run fourth in Parx Racing’s Pa Derby Champion Stakes.

Baffert has warmed to running Collected in the Classic due to solid works since then. The chestnut’s last breeze measured seven furlongs Monday in 1:25.60.

“This Classic is sort of up for grabs this year,” Baffert said. “It’s a nice, tough race. There’s good horses in there, but I’d like to have all three in there.”