Bayern Trying to Reclaim Spotlight in $300,000 Awesome Again Stakes

Bayern, the winner of 2014 Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1), is one of two horses in the race for trainer Bob Baffert and tops the field as the 5-2 morning line favorite. A four-year-old son of Offlee Wild, he has won six of his fourteen starts and has not won since his Breeders’ Cup score last fall. He is trying to rebound after finishing ninth behind champion mare Beholder in the Pacific Classic (G1) last time out. Martin Garcia will be aboard from the outside post.

Hoppertunity attempting to return to form

Second choice at 3-1 on the morning line is Hoppertunity, the other Bob Baffert-trainee in the race. A four-year-old son of Any Given Saturday, the bay colt was a $300,000 yearling and has won four of his thirteen starts. A multiple graded stakes winner, he has been fourth in his last two starts against graded stakes competition and will have Mike Smith aboard from post position five

Hard Aces a threat from the rail

Also in the field at morning line odds of 4-1 is Hard Aces for trainer John Sadler. A five-year-old son of Hard Spun, he is a six-time winner and notched his first graded stakes victory two starts back in the Gold Cup at Santa Anita (G1). He is trying to move forward off of a sixth-place finish in the Pacific Classic (G1) and will have Victor Espinoza in the irons from the rail.