Arabian Knight retired, will stand stud at Hill 'n' Dale Farm

Grade 1 winner Arabian Knight has been retired from racing and will arrive at Hill ‘n’ Dale Farm in Paris, Ky., on Tuesday to prepare for the start of his stud career there in 2025.

Arabian Knight, trained by Bob Baffert for Zedan Racing, has started once this year, finishing fourth in the Grade 2 San Diego Handicap on July 27 at Del Mar. Baffert told Daily Racing Form on Sunday that he planned to cut the colt back in distance and start him in the Grade 2 Pat O’Brien Stakes this coming Saturday at Del Mar.

Hill ‘n’ Dale announced the colt’s retirement on Monday evening, with no in-depth explanation for the dramatic change in plans.

“He’s just not back to where I had him last year,” Baffert said in the farm’s press release. “We need more time, which we don’t have. I just don’t want another Arrogate situation on my hands. This is an exceptionally talented horse.”

Arabian Knight, by Uncle Mo, was a $2.3 million Ocala Breeders’ Sales Co. spring sale purchase in 2022, and he won his debut later that year. As a 3-year-old in 2023, he won the Grade 3 Southwest Stakes by 5 1/2 lengths in his second career start. That summer, he was third behind Geaux Rocket Ride and Kentucky Derby winner Mage in the Grade 1 Haskell Stakes.

Arabian Knight subsequently scored his biggest win when he edged Geaux Rocket Ride by a neck in the Grade 1 Pacific Classic, as those two led home a field of 10 older horses that included eventual Grade/Group 1 winners Slow Down Andy and Senor Buscador in third and fourth, respectively. Arabian Knight was fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Classic in his final start of 2023.

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