Baffert 'Very Tempted' But Will Pass Preakness with Crude Velocity, Woody Stephens Target

Preakness 2026: Baffert reroutes Crude Velocity to Woody Stephens; Silent Tactic works

Believing it would be “too much too soon,” trainer Bob Baffert on Friday said that undefeated 3-year-old Crude Velocity would skip the Preakness Stakes on May 16 at Laurel Park and likely point to the Grade 1 Woody Stephens on June 6 at Saratoga.

Report: Baffert's Crude Velocity will skip Preakness

Bob Baffert will not have a runner in Preakness 2026 as Crude Velocity will skip the middle jewel of the Triple Crown and instead be pointed to the Grade 1 Woody Stephens on the Belmont Stakes undercard at Saratoga and then the Haskell (G1) on July 18 at Monmouth. Baffert announced the decision on Steve Byk's "At the Races" radio program Friday morning. Crude Velocity is 3-for-3 and was considered for the Preakness after his 3 3/4-length win in …

Baffert 'Very Tempted' But Will Pass Preakness with Crude Velocity, Woody Stephens Target

Hall of Famer Bob Baffert will not point GII Pat Day Mile victor Crude Velocity (Beau Liam) to the GI Preakness Stakes next Saturday, and will instead target the GI Woody Stephens Stakes with an eye on the GI Haskell Stakes later in the summer, the trainer confirmed to Agentes 305. According to a post on X from the aforementioned page, Baffert was 'very tempted' but ultimately decided against the entry as it was coming up too quickly for the 'TD…