Arabian Knight among Kentucky Derby candidates to work in advance of storm
Three of the biggest names among the California-based 3-year-olds had workouts at Santa Anita on Thursday, a day before the expected arrival of a rainstorm.
Arabian Knight, who has won his two starts by a combined 12 3/4 lengths, worked six furlongs in 1:13.60 on Thursday. He had worked five furlongs in 59.20 seconds on Saturday.
Reincarnate, a game third with trouble in the Grade 2 Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn Park on Feb. 25, worked a half-mile in 47.80 seconds.
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Cave Rock, second as the 1-2 favorite in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Keeneland on Nov. 4, worked five furlongs in 58.40 seconds. He went the same distance in 58.80 seconds last Saturday.
Arabian Knight, who won the Grade 3 Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn Park on Jan. 28, and Reincarnate are trained by Tim Yakteen.
“We got some good works in before the rain,” Yakteen said. “We had to pull our works a bit for these horses. It worked out.”
Arabian Knight and Reincarnate were part of a small group of horses recently transferred from Bob Baffert to Yakteen to remain eligible for the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on May 6. They were required to be transferred by Feb. 28 to earn qualifying points for the Kentucky Derby.
Churchill Downs ruled Baffert is ineligible to run horses in the Kentucky Derby this year as a sanction for the Baffert-trained Medina Spirit’s medication violation following his win in the 2021 Kentucky Derby. Medina Spirit was disqualified from the victory.
Arabian Knight’s two workouts in the last week are his only works since Feb. 13.
“He’s a phenomenal athlete,” Yakteen said. “We weren’t looking for anything but to give him a nice comfortable drill.”
The Grade 1 Runhappy Santa Anita Derby on April 8 might be the next start for for Arabian Knight.
Yakteen also has Practical Move under strong consideration for the Santa Anita Derby.
Practical Move, the winner of the Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes at Santa Anita last Saturday in his 3-year-old debut, has been with Yakteen’s stable throughout his career.
“We have another two works before we have to make a decision,” Yakteen said. “More than likely we’ll run out of Santa Anita.”
Reincarnate is a candidate for the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park on April 1.
“I haven’t mapped out anything,” Yakteen said. “I’ve got time, and I’m trying to see what works best for everybody. We all have the same goal.”
Cave Rock has remained with Baffert and therefore is not a candidate for the Kentucky Derby. Baffert said he worked a bit quicker than planned on Thursday.
“He was supposed to cruise around there,” Baffert said. “He went a little fast. We’re trying to beat the rain.
“We have no plans, we’re just getting him lined up. He looks healthy and he looks nice. It won’t take long to get him back.”
Teddy’s Barino, the winner of a seven-furlong allowance race at Santa Anita on Feb. 18, worked a half-mile in 49 seconds on Thursday. Trainer Mark Glatt said the $250,000 Matron Stakes at six furlongs at Oaklawn Park on March 31 is a goal for Teddy’s Barino.
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