Grade 1, $750,500 Runhappy Santa Anita Derby, 1 1/8 miles, Santa Anita, April 9, 2022 (100 Derby qualifying points for first, 40 for second, 20 for third, 10 for fourth) Winner: Taiba, by Gun Runner Trainer: Tim Yakteen Jockey: Mike Smith. Owner: Zedan Racing Stables Beyer Speed Figure: 102 TAIBA has been highly regarded for quite awhile. He was purchased as a 2-year-old in training for $1.7 million by the same team that campaigned Medina Spirit. A minor setback last summer took him out of training for several months, but when he finally got to the races on March 5, he was favored at 1-2, and won like it, with a Beyer Speed Figure of 103 for that six-furlong race. Still, it seemed highly audacious to run in this race off that one race. Taiba was facing seasoned stakes winners in MESSIER and FORBIDDEN KINGDOM, and he had never been around two turns, unlike Messier and Forbidden Kingdom, both two-turn stakes winners at this meet. I have to admit, I thought this was folly. I was way wrong. :: KENTUCKY DERBY 2022: Point standings, prep schedule, news, and more Taiba won as much the best, again earning a Beyer figure north of 100. He will now try to win the Derby in only his third start, which seems preposterous, but it seemed preposterous to win the Santa Anita Derby off one six-furlong maiden sprint win. I doubt I’ll be backing him, owing to the historical challenge – and the fact a 20-horse Derby field won’t resemble a six-horse Santa Anita Derby field – but there’s no doubt this is an extremely talented colt who will have significant backing at Churchill Downs. In this race, Taiba broke alertly from the outside stall and went into the first turn in the clear, but wide, outside Forbidden Kingdom and Messier. He eased back of those two late on the first turn and into the backstretch, then was asked three furlongs out to go after the leaders. He ranged up three paths wide, was slightly late to change leads coming off the bend, had about a length to make up on Messier a furlong out, and continued to close relentlessly to put away Messier and then draw clear late, with a solid final furlong in 12.60 seconds. This was a huge accomplishment. To get nitpicky, though, he was in the clear throughout in a small field. The conditions will be different in four weeks. But tip of the cap for sure for the performance on the day. Messier, who finished second, didn’t break super sharp but then showed good speed during a fast opening quarter (22.75 seconds) to knife between Forbidden Kingdom and Taiba to go into the first turn second, sitting just behind and outside Forbidden Kingdom. He inched closer down the backstretch, moved to challenge for the lead on the far turn, put away Forbidden Kingdom at the quarter pole, led until inside the furlongs grounds, but was no match late for Taiba. Perhaps he was softened up just enough going after the hot pace of Forbidden Kingdom, but, as in the Los Alamitos Futurity against Slow Down Andy, he was out-finished late to a horse you would think he’d defeat, especially in this case owing to his foundation compared to Taiba. Regardless, he got another strong Beyer figure. The rest were way out of it and of no consequence. HAPPY JACK, who was third, bobbled slightly at the start, was outrun in the early going, and went into the first turn in fifth while hugging the rail. He dropped well off the lead down the backstretch, was last three furlongs out while continuing to save ground, and picked off tired rivals while closing ground inside and failing to change leads through the lane. ARMAGNAC, who was fourth, was wrestled back in the opening strides to avoid getting into a speed duel, but he seemed to resent it and tossed his head about. He eased back into a spot in the clear, behind the three leaders, while still slightly keen. He was about a half-length behind Taiba heading into the far turn while saving ground, was gradually angled to the three path coming off the bend, but failed to kick on. WIN THE DAY, who was fifth, was badly outrun early while racing on his left lead, and was in the three path though well behind his rivals around the first turn. He made up some ground into the far turn, was under an energetic ride at least three furlongs out, drifted to the four path coming off the bend, was slightly late to change leads, and passed only the faltering pacesetter. Forbidden Kingdom, who finished last of six, bobbled slightly leaving the gate but was quickly on his feet and sped to the front without any encouragement. He’s just naturally fast. He led Messier through an opening quarter in 22.75 seconds, then got away with a slower second quarter in 23.95. He maintained the lead down the backstretch as Messier crept closer, was shoved along well before the quarter pole to try and stave off Messier, was outrun coming off the bend by the top two, and faded through the lane. His trainer, Richard Mandella, had been circumspect about his two-turn ability early in his career. His last start, the San Felipe, was a successful two-turn debut. But he regressed badly here. He came out of the race with an ulcerated throat, Mandella told my colleague Steve Andersen. So, in my opinion, this would seem a good time to regroup and perhaps point to races like the seven-furlong, Grade 1 Allen Jerkens this summer at Saratoga. I don't think he’s cut out for 1 1/4-mile racing.