Dortmund to Make First Start Since Preakness

Idle since running fourth in the Preakness Stakes May 16, Santa Anita Derby winner Dortmund towers over a field of six three year olds and up in Saturday’s $70,000, one mile Big Bear Stakes at Santa Anita.

A winner of three graded stakes earlier this year at Santa Anita; the Grade III Robert B. Lewis on Feb. 7, the Grade II San Felipe on March 7 and the Grade I Santa Anita Derby April 4, Dortmund was undefeated in six starts heading into the Kentucky Derby, where he finished third, beaten three lengths, by stablemate and eventual Triple Crown winner American Pharoah.

Trained by Bob Baffert and owned by Kaleem Shah, the 3-year-old colt by Big Brown caught a sloppy surface in the 1 3/16 miles Preakness and finished fourth, beaten 15 ½ lengths.

With six wins from eight starts and earnings of $1,579,400, Dortmund can be expected to go to the early lead and improve his position with regular rider Martin Garcia aloft.

The complete field for the Big Bear Stakes, to be run as the eighth race on a nine-race program Saturday, with jockeys and weights in post positon order:  Cat Burglar, Victor Espinoza, 124; Motown Men, Tyler Baze, 124; Point Piper, Rafael Bejarano, 124; Soi Phet, Kent Desormeaux, 124; Dortmund, Martin Garcia, 122, and Mystery Train, Felipe Valdez, 124.

Source: Santa Anita Park