Belmont Stakes runner-up Paynter
will head back to California Monday morning
with plans to return to New York
this summer for the Grade 1 Travers on August 25, trainer Bob Baffert said
Sunday morning.
“He’ll go back home, freshen up, and we’ll look to
bring him back somewhere on the East coast,” said Baffert. “Maybe
the Jim Dandy [Grade 2, July 28] – we’re shooting for the Travers
with him. We have [Derby
and Preakness runner-up] Bodemeister for the Haskell.”
With the exception of a nick on his left hind leg, Paynter returned
from his neck loss to Union Rags in good shape, said the Hall of Fame trainer.
“He lost his left hind shoe in the race,” he said. “I
don’t know when it happened, but it must have been near the end.”
Baffert said he, as well, emerged from the race in fairly good shape.
“Second is still sinking in,” he said.