Bayern returns Saturday at Churchill Downs

By: SPORTS NETWORK

Louisville, KY (SportsNetwork.com) - Breeders' Cup Classic winner Bayern gets back to racing Saturday in the $500,000 Churchill Downs Stakes in support of the 141st Kentucky Derby.

Bayern, trained by Bob Baffert for Kaleem Shah, will be ridden by his regular rider Martin Garcia from post 2 in the seven-horse field going seven furlongs. The even-money favorite has not raced this season after having a foot problem.

Bayern won the 2014 Breeders' Cup Classic on Nov. 1 at Santa Anita and earlier captured the Woody Stephens Stakes, Haskell Invitational and Pennsylvania Derby, The colt has earned $4,389,680 with six wins from 10 career races, all in 2014.

The 2-1 second pick is Private Zone, trained by Jorge Navarro for owner Good Friends Stable. The 6-year-old gelding will start from post 4 with Martin Pedroza riding.

Private Zone opened 2015 with a runner-up finish to Honor Code in the Gulfstream Park Handicap on March 7. He is a two-time winner of the Vosburgh Invitational at Belmont Park and won last year's Cigar Mile at Aqueduct. The gelding has earned $1,581,220 with seven wins and eight seconds in 26 career starts.

Here is the field for the Churchill Downs from the inside out: C. Zee, Irad Ortiz Jr., 15-1; Bayern, Martin Garcia, even; Brewing, Ramon Vazquez, 20-1; Private Zone, Martin Pedroza, 2-1; Pants On Fire, Paco Lopez, 5-1; Gentlemen's Bet, Ricardo Santana Jr., 10-1 and Nates Mineshaft, Florent Geroux, 20-1.

Post time for the Churchill Downs Stakes will be approximately 3:43 p.m. ET.