Arabian Knight on schedule for San Diego Handicap

ARCADIA, Calif. – Arabian Knight was one of the leading 3-year-olds of 2023, a season in which he beat older horses in the Grade 1 Pacific Classic at Del Mar.

This year, Del Mar will be the venue of much of Arabian Knight’s intended campaign, beginning with a scheduled start in the Grade 2 San Diego Handicap at 1 1/16 miles on July 27. The $300,000 San Diego Handicap is Del Mar’s leading prep race for the $1 million Pacific Classic at 1 1/4 miles on Aug. 31.

The winner of the Pacific Classic receives a fees-paid berth to the Breeders’ Cup Classic, which will be run on Nov. 2 at Del Mar. Arabian Knight was fourth by 2 1/2 lengths to White Abarrio in the BC Classic at Santa Anita last November, his most recent start.

Owned by Amr Zedan, Arabian Knight has had 11 workouts since early April at Santa Anita, including a brisk five furlongs in 59.20 seconds on Sunday.

“We’re pointing for the San Diego Handicap,” trainer Bob Baffert said Sunday morning. “I’ve been taking my time to get him ready.”

Arabian Knight, by Uncle Mo, has won 3 of 5 starts and earned $1,544,275. He was purchased for $2.3 million at a 2-year-olds in training sale in 2022.

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Baffert has highly promising juveniles scheduled to run in the first graded stakes for the division at Del Mar in early August with the filly Nooni and colt Midland Money. Both were winners at Santa Anita last week.

Nooni, the first winner for the Florida-based stallion Win Win Win, led throughout a five-furlong maiden race for fillies on June 13, winning by 9 1/2 lengths at 1-5. Owned by Zedan, Nooni was timed in 58.21 seconds.

Purchased for $1.8 million, Nooni was the most expensive hip of the three-day Ocala Breeders’ Sales 2-year-olds in training auction in Florida in March.

Nooni, a candidate for the Grade 3 Sorrento Stakes at six furlongs on Aug. 10, recovered from the win quickly.

“She wanted to go out” and train Sunday, Baffert said.

Midland Money won a five-furlong maiden race by six lengths at 1-5 last Friday, leading throughout. Owned by CSLR Racing Partners, Midland Money was timed in 58.15.

“It wasn’t too hard on them,” Baffert said of the victories. “They won the right way. Both have a lot of quality.”

Midland Money, by Shancelot, will return in the Grade 3 Best Pal Stakes on Aug. 11.

“I wanted to get a start in them if you want to start in the Best Pal or Sorrento,” Baffert said.

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