CSLR Racing Partners' Crude Velocity (Beau Liam) will look to stretch out for his next start in the 1 1/8-mile GI Haskell Stakes July 18 at Monmouth Park following his runner-up effort behind the impressive Englishman (Maxfield) in the seven-furlong GI Woody Stephens Stakes Saturday at Saratoga.
“I'm going to run him in the Haskell,” trainer Bob Baffert confirmed. “We're going to stretch. I was going to run him in the Matt Winn today [Sunday at Churchill Downs], but I thought maybe, I was hoping that Englishman wouldn't show up there [at Saratoga], but then he showed up. We'll see.”
Baffert was sure his charge would not be looking for a rematch with Englishman, who earned a 115 Beyer Speed figure for his track-record equaling performance Saturday.
“I will never run against that horse again,” Baffert said of Englishman. “Crude Velocity will never see that horse in the gate again, unless they are going two turns. That was, I mean, wow… Crude Velocity was doing so well, I saw that time, that was crazy.”
Tabbed a 'TDN Rising Star presented by Hagyard' following his debut win at Santa Anita in March, Crude Velocity won an optional claimer in Arcadia before defeating Englishman in the May 2 GII Pat Day Mile Stakes on Kentucky Derby day.
Baffert also reported Nysos (Nyquist) exited his win in the GI Hill 'n' Dale Metropolitan Handicap in fine shape and he put the 5-year-old among the best horses he has trained.
“He came out of it well,” Baffert said of Nysos. “He'll be heading back to Kentucky now, Monday night. I haven't had a horse like him since like American Pharoah. He is that caliber of horse. He's really good.”
The Met Mile offered a “Win and You're In” berth to the GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile, which Nysos won by a head last November at Del Mar, but this year he is expected to target the GI Breeders' Cup Classic.
“Everybody wants to know what is next for him, but I don't know what's next for him,” Baffert said with a laugh. “I know the Breeders' Cup is the goal, we'll work backwards from there and I'm not sure yet.”
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