Following Baffert transfers, Yakteen has five horses in San Felipe
ARCADIA, Calif. – A lot changed this month for Arabian Knight and new trainer Tim Yakteen.
Arabian Knight entered February 2 for 2 and the early favorite for the Kentucky Derby; Yakteen was focused on preparing his single Derby prospect, Practical Move, for a comeback in the Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes on Saturday at Santa Anita.
It all shifted last week. Arabian Knight skipped a workout, then transferred to Yakteen from Bob Baffert along with other former Baffert trainees, including four entered in the San Felipe.
Virtually overnight, Yakteen went from one starter in the San Felipe to five. Practical Move, the Grade 2 winner Yakteen trained throughout his 2-year-old season, returns Saturday in the San Felipe, joined by four new stablemates who began their careers with Baffert.
National Treasure, third in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, was moved to Yakteen along with Grade 1-placed maiden winner Hejazi, Grade 2-placed Fort Bragg, and last-out maiden winner Mr Fisk. The reason for the Baffert-to-Yakteen change is the Churchill Downs ban on Baffert trainees, who cannot earn Derby qualifying points if they run in his name.
The four ex-Baffert trainees in the San Felipe are now in Yakteen’s barn at Santa Anita, Yakteen said, along with missing-in-action Arabian Knight and Reincarnate, whose troubled third in the Grade 2 Rebel Stakes on Saturday at Oaklawn Park solidified his credentials as a legitimate Kentucky Derby prospect.
As for Arabian Knight, a runaway winner in both his starts, including the Grade 3 Southwest Stakes on Jan. 28, his status as early Derby favorite has become less certain due to gaps in his work pattern. The most recent workout by Arabian Knight was Feb. 13 for Baffert. Expectations were Arabian Knight would work again a week later. He skipped last week’s work, then moved to Yakteen.
Yakteen did not specify when Arabian Knight would work, though he implied it would be soon.
“I’m going to see how the track is this week. He’s good. We’re all good,” Yakteen said.
Arabian Knight currently has zero Derby qualifying points.
There were no workouts at Santa Anita on Sunday or Monday due to rain and track condition. Workouts were tentatively scheduled to resume Tuesday, and Yakteen said he was considering short works for his San Felipe starters. It is unclear when Arabian Knight would work, or race.
“Our canvas is pretty blank right now,” Yakteen said, referring specifically to Arabian Knight. As for his overall 3-year-old prospects, which also include recent Baffert transfers Arabian Lion and Carmel Road, Yakteen said “We’ll train forward, see how the horses are doing, and get a clearer picture.”
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Yakteen was asked how much input Baffert would have on how Yakteen trains the horses. “None,” Yakteen said, while adding that his role is temporary. Except for Practical Move, Yakteen said he expects the horses will return to Baffert later this spring.
The trainer change, Yakteen said, “is so these owners can run in the Derby given the opportunity. It’s all about the horses, and the clients, the people that have invested in the horses.”
The winner of the 1 1/16-mile San Felipe earns 50 qualifying points for the Derby, on a 50-20-15-10-5 scale. The San Felipe is race 6 on a Saturday card that includes a pair of Grade 1 races – the Santa Anita Handicap and Frank E. Kilroe Mile on turf.
Others in the San Felipe field include Chase the Chaos, winner of the El Camino Real Derby; Geaux Rocket Ride, runaway winner of his sprint debut; and Skinner, the Grade 1-placed colt who scored a smashing maiden route win in his recent comeback.
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