2022 Kentucky Derby: Taiba workout goes according to plan
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – After a quiet Thursday morning for Kentucky Derby and Oaks prospects at Churchill Downs, there was serious work happening some 2,000 miles west when Taiba went six furlongs in 1:12.80 at Santa Anita in Arcadia, Calif.
Taiba won the April 9 Santa Anita Derby by 2 1/4 lengths in just his second start. The Thursday breeze will be the only one for the Gun Runner colt ahead of the May 7 Kentucky Derby.
“The work was very straightforward, from the five-eighths pole,” trainer Tim Yakteen said by phone shortly afterward. “It was very typical Taiba. It accomplished basically what we were looking for – a nice, strong, solid work, something that’s not going to empty him out, but something to put air into his lungs. I got him in 1:12-and-3, with a [seven-furlong] gallop-out of 1:26. It was all good.”
Taiba, owned by Amr Zedan, will be attempting to accomplish something that hasn’t been done since 1883, when Leonatus became the first horse to win the Derby in his third start. Taiba earned a 103 Beyer Speed Figure in winning his March 5 debut going six furlongs at Santa Anita, then followed that up with a 102 Beyer in the 1 1/8-mile Santa Anita Derby under Mike Smith, who has the Kentucky Derby mount.
Messier, a second Kentucky Derby starter for Yakteen, was scheduled to work Friday at Santa Anita. Owned by a multi-way partnership, Messier was second to his stablemate in the Santa Anita Derby when 10 lengths clear of third-finisher Happy Jack. John Velazquez has the mount on Messier in the Derby.
“My general feeling is both horses are doing really super,” said Yakteen. “It’s been uneventful. Both are very professional and make my job easy. It’s been ‘touch wood,’ straightforward, and we hope to continue the same routine once we get into Churchill.”
Both colts will be flown Sunday to Louisville, said Yakteen.
Taiba and Messier both were trained by Bob Baffert prior to the Santa Anita Derby. Baffert has been banned by Churchill through the 2023 Derby in the aftermath of the disqualification of the Zedan-owned Medina Spirit from his apparent 2021 Kentucky Derby victory because of a medication violation. Yakteen was a longtime assistant to Baffert prior to going out on his own in 2004.
Taiba and Messier both are expected to be perhaps in the 8-1 range in the 148th Derby behind the likely favorites Zandon and Epicenter. A capacity field of 20 3-year-olds is expected when entries are drawn here Monday afternoon, with perhaps a few also-eligibles also listed on the Derby program.