OCEANPORT, N.J. -- Bayern looked unstoppable Sunday at Monmouth Park, and neither favored filly Untapable nor any of the other seven entrants in the $1 million Haskell Invitational could do anything about it
Bayern bounced out of the gate first under Martin Garcia and led every step of the 1 1/18-mile race, pulling away by 7 1/4 lengths over Albano.
The victory by Bayern gave his trainer Bob Baffert his seventh Haskell victory, a race he watched on television from his home base in California.
"I didn't think he'd do anything as devastating as that," Baffert said of Bayern, the third-place finisher in the April 12 Arkansas Derby. "It looks like he has it all together now."
Kentucky Oaks winner Untapable, facing boys for the first time, was fifth as the 7-5 favorite of the crowd of 35,093.
Jockey Rosie Napravnik said she felt Untapable became unsettled before the start when Social Inclusion in the adjoining stall acted up.
"She got a little fussy, and she didn't get away well," Napravnik said. "She ran a hell of a race, and she ran as hard as she could."
The time was 1:47.82 for 1 1/8 miles on the fast track.
Bayern paid $11.40, $7.20 and $5. Albano returned $10.80 and $6.60, and Wildcat Red paid $5.40 to show.
Bayern, named for a German soccer team, won for the fourth time in seven starts, earning $600,000 for Kaleem Shah, Inc. to raise his total earnings to $1,077,680.
"We were going to the lead," Garcia said. "There was no Plan B."
"We were hoping someone would challenge the leader early and that didn't happen," said Larry Jones, trainer of Albano. "The winner was so impressive we could have gone around 25 more times and we still we're going to get him."
Irish You Well was fourth followed by Untapable, Just Call Kenny, Social Inclusion, Encryption and Medal Count.
Bayern earned a free shot at the $5 million Breeders' Cup Classic on Nov. 1 at Santa Anita, his home track. Haskell was a "Win and You're In" Breeders' Cup Challenge stakes. As an added reward, the $100,000 entry fee to the Classic is now waived.
Horses trained by Baffert have four of the past five Haskells.
Untapable broke sixth in her debut against males and couldn't get into contention, racing wide in midpack throughout on a speed-favoring track.
Trainer Steve Asmussen said he knew Untapable was in trouble when she was wide on the first turn.
"The way the track played today," he said, "she was never in position to win."
Bayern zipped along on the rail, going a half-mile in 47.66 seconds and 6 furlongs in 1:11.16. Garcia unleashed him entering the stretch and they poured it on, spurting clear by 3 lengths at the eighth pole as the crowd of 35,093 roared.
"I wasn't surprised how well he ran," Garcia said. "I wasn't worried about the filly or anyone."
Albano (11-1) completed a $97 exacta, with 9-1 Wildcat Red third and 21-1 Irish You Well fourth, a head in front of Untapable.
Making the defeat even more difficult for Napravnik was that she rode Bayern twice in the spring. She finished first in the Derby Trial at Churchill Downs but was disqualified for interference. She rode Bayern to a ninth-place finish in the Preakness, and Baffert switched to Gary Stevens, who rode Bayern to a dominating victory in the 7-furlong Woody Stephens Stakes on Belmont Stakes day. Garcia picked up the mount because Stevens is sidelined by knee problem.
"He was cruising the whole way," Garcia said. "When we turned for home, he took off."
Information for this article contributed by Mike Farrell of The Associated Press and Ed McNamara of Newsday.
Sports on 07/28/2014