Taiba has first post-Kentucky Derby workout
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Taiba, who finished 12th as the 5-1 second choice in the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on May 7, worked three furlongs in 36.80 seconds at Santa Anita on Friday.
The workout was the first for Taiba since he finished 17 3/4 lengths behind winner Rich Strike in the 20-runner Kentucky Derby, the colt’s third start.
Owned by Zedan Racing and trained by Tim Yakteen, Taiba won his debut in a maiden special weight race at six furlongs on March 5, and won the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby at 1 1/8 miles by 2 1/4 lengths on April 9. In the Kentucky Derby, Taiba was as close as fifth on the backstretch, but was not a factor in the stretch.
Yakteen had two runners in the Kentucky Derby, including Messier, who finished 15th. They were previously trained by Bob Baffert, who is in the midst of a highly publicized 90-day suspension for a medication violation found in a post-race test taken from Medina Spirit in the 2021 Kentucky Derby. Medina Spirit finished first in the Kentucky Derby, but was later disqualified for the violation.
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Yakteen said last week Messier and Taiba will be pointed for stakes for 3-year-olds in early summer, with races at Monmouth Park and Saratoga to be considered.
On Friday, Tizamagician continued toward a 2022 debut with a five-furlong workout in 1:02.20. The winner of two Grade 3 races at 1 1/2 miles on dirt last year, Tizamagician has not raced since he finished a game second to Lone Rock in the Grade 2 Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance Stakes at 1 1/2 miles at Del Mar last November.
Trained by Richard Mandella for the My Racehorse syndicate and Spendthrift Farm, Tizamagician has won 5 of 21 starts and earned $683,851.