DEL MAR, Calif. – Which entrant is vulnerable in the Grade 2 San Diego Handicap on Saturday at Del Mar? Perhaps the entire field is dubious, including Arabian Knight. The 124-pound topweight against five rivals, Arabian Knight races 1 1/16 miles in the San Diego on the same track where last summer he wired the Grade 1 Pacific Classic. But the best horse faces challenges on Saturday. Arabian Knight, 3 for 5 overall and fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Classic last out, has not raced in nearly nine months. The last time he returned from an extended layoff he finished third at even money. Yet, even if he needs a start, Arabian Knight is the most likely winner of the San Diego. “He’s doing very well,” trainer Bob Baffert said, acknowledging the layoff. “There’s nothing like having a race. This is the best spot for him.” Baffert said Arabian Knight has matured this year, at least in the morning. “He’s not as aggressive as he used to be, last year he’d get a little bit rank, but now he’s relaxed more,” Baffert said. Lightly raced Arabian Knight, owned by Amr Zedan, enters the San Diego as the best and fastest horse. But from a betting perspective, the dilemma is dealing with a favorite in a comeback prep that is his first start of the year. Five others in the San Diego are equally uncertain. :: DRF's Del Mar Handicapping Packages: Get everything you need to play the races with confidence. Newgrange is a Grade 2 winner who has not raced since March when sixth in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap. Express Train, a veteran Grade 1 winner who won the San Diego in 2021, has had only one race, a sprint, since fall 2022. Subsanador finished a flat fourth last out in the Grade 2 Gold Cup. Katonah has not started in a year, and Dr. Venkman has never run two turns. Arabian Knight was high profile before he started, partly due to a $2.3 million sales price as a juvenile. He has never run a bad race. A flashy debut winner at 2, he romped in a Grade 3 to commence his 3-year-old year, then was sidelined. Third in the Grade 1 Haskell returning from a layoff, he wired the Pacific Classic and finished a respectable fourth in the BC Classic last out. Best horse, yes. But top horses miss in prep races, and big deal. Baffert has started 36 runners in the San Diego, winning with Maximum Security in 2020 and Fed Biz in 2014. The list of Baffert favorites who fell short reads like murderer’s row. Arrogate, Silver Charm, Captain Steve, Country Grammer, Bayern, and Congaree all lost the San Diego as the favorite. Juan Hernandez rides Arabian Knight, the horse to beat notwithstanding the layoff. A front-runner, his chances may depend on strategy of potential pace rival Dr. Venkman, who is stretching out for the first time. And while Arabian Knight is using the San Diego as a prep, others in the field also are using the $300,000 race as a stepping-stone. Newgrange is racing for the first time since a breathing issue compromised his performance in the Big Cap. He finished sixth as the favorite, then underwent a throat procedure to correct the issue. Newgrange typically improves as his campaign unfolds. “It’s a good spot to get him going,” trainer Phil D’Amato said. “He’s had a nice couple of works, I had [Kazushi] Kimura breeze him last time; he’ll be his new pilot. We’re hopefully using this as a prep to the Pacific Classic. That’s our two-race plan.” Newgrange has won 7 of 14, including front-running/pace-pressing Grade 2 victories this winter at Santa Anita. Newgrange figures to be forwardly placed, but like Arabian Knight, Newgrange is more likely to improve next time out. Subsanador was a Group 1 winner in Argentina. His runner-up finish this March in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap stamped his U.S. credentials. He was sold privately afterward and moved to trainer Richard Mandella. Subsanador merely split the field in the Gold Cup. “Disappointed he didn’t do better, but [I was] just getting to know him,” Mandella said. “I think he’s better now than he was then. He’ll run better this time.” Subsanador, 7 for 15, is reunited with Hector Berrios, who rode him to the runner-up finish in the Big Cap. Express Train won the 2021 San Diego and rose to the top of the California handicap division in winter 2022 by winning three graded stakes, including the Big Cap. After two autumn misfires, Express Train was given his first extended break and missed the entire 2023 season. :: Get Del Mar Clocker Reports straight from the morning workouts at the track. Available every race day. He returned this spring for trainer John Shirreffs, running a respectable third behind The Chosen Vron and Happy Jack in a sprint stakes. He stretches out Saturday facing a key question – can he be as good at age 7 as he was two years ago at 5? “I don’t know until he runs in the afternoon,” Shirreffs acknowledged. “He’s training well.” Mike Smith worked Express Train five furlongs Sunday morning and rides him in the San Diego, race 8 on an 11-race Saturday card that includes the Grade 1 Bing Crosby, race 10. :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.