Bayern Kicks Off Campaign in Grade II Churchill Downs

Kaleem Shah’s Bayern, winner of the 2014 Breeders’ Cup Classic (GI) in his most recent start, kicks off his 2015 campaign against six rivals in the 81st running of the $500,000 Churchill Downs (GII).

The Churchill Downs, contested at seven furlongs on the main track, will go as the ninth race with a 3:43 p.m. post time.

Trained by Bob Baffert, Bayern also won the Haskell Invitational (GI), Pennsylvania Derby (GII) and the Woody Stephens (GII) and was disqualified from a victory in last year’s Derby Trial (GIII) here. His career record stands at 10-6-1-1 with earnings of nearly $4.4 million.

Martin Garcia, who has ridden Bayern in his past four starts, has the mount Saturday and will break from post position two.

Two other millionaires are in the field: Good Friends Stable’s Private Zone and George and Lori Hall’s Pants On Fire.

Trained by Jorge Navarro, Private Zone is a two-time winner of the Vosburgh Invitational (GI) and won last year’s Cigar Mile (GI). An earner of $1,581,220, Private Zone opened 2015 with a runner-up finish to Honor Code in the Gulfstream Park Handicap (GII).

Martin Pedroza will ride Private Zone and break from post position four.

Pants On Fire, ninth in the 2011 Kentucky Derby behind Animal Kingdom, is a multiple graded stakes winner trained by Kelly Breen. An earner of nearly $1.5 million, Pants On Fire will be ridden by Paco Lopez and break from post position five.

The field for the Churchill Downs with jockeys and weights from the inside out is: C. Zee (Irad Ortiz Jr., 118), Bayern (Garcia, 123), Brewing (Ramon Vazquez, 118), Private Zone (Pedroza, 123), Pants On Fire (Lopez, 118), Gentlemen’s Bet (Ricardo Santana Jr., 118) and Nates Mineshaft (Florent Geroux, 118).

Source: Churchill Downs