Zedan Racing Stables' Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) third-place finisher Salahudin could make his next start in the $400,000 Kentucky Jockey Club (G2) on Saturday, Nov. 28, at Churchill Downs, according to Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert.
Salahudin won his first two starts at Ellis Park, including the Ellis Park Juvenile, before earning 10 points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby with a half-length victory in the Iroquois Stakes (G3) on Sept. 12 at Churchill Downs. In the Oct. 30 Breeders' Cup Juvenile at Keeneland, he raced keenly while stalking pace in traffic, moved into contention, and was bumped twice late before finishing third behind stablemate Hughes and Breeders' Futurity (G1) winner American History. It was Uncle Mo colt's first loss in four starts.
"He's a big horse and it's hard to start and stop like he did," Baffert said Nov. 2 on "At the Races with Steve Byk."
Baffert said he plans to take off the colt's blinkers.
The 1 1/16-mile Kentucky Jockey Club awards Kentucky Derby qualifying points to the top five finishers on a 10-5-3-2-1 scale.
Salahudin and Hughes shipped back to Churchill Downs from Keeneland on Nov. 1. Hughes, the likely 2-year-old champion, improved to 5-for-5 with a 2 1/4-length victory in the Juvenile, his third straight grade 1 win.
Baffert, who now has a full-time division at Churchill Downs, plans to have horses at Santa Anita Park and Oaklawn Park this winter.
