Taiba, the winner of the Santa Anita Derby, will have just one work in preparation for the Kentucky Derby, trainer Tim Yakteen said Saturday, a few hours after he had worked his other potential Derby starter, Santa Anita Derby runner-up Messier. Taiba was making only his second start in the Santa Anita Derby. Yakteen said Taiba “took the race well, but it was a hard race, and I want to make sure he’s energetic.” “He doesn’t need much to be fit,” Yakteen said. “I want to go in on the fresher side. He’ll work Thursday or Friday this coming week. I’ll give him a few stronger gallops.” Taiba’s lone start before the Santa Anita Derby was a maiden sprint five weeks earlier. Fitness was certainly not an issue in the April 9 Santa Anita Derby, as he beat Messier on the square while stretching out to 1 1/8 miles. :: KENTUCKY DERBY 2022: Point standings, prep schedule, news, and more Taiba is attempting to become the first horse to win the Derby in only his third start since Leonatus in 1883, and the first horse ever to win the Derby in his third start without having raced as a 2-year-old. Messier, who worked five furlongs in 59.80 seconds on Saturday at Santa Anita, is also scheduled to work Thursday or Friday, Yakteen said. Both colts are scheduled to fly from California to Kentucky on May 1, and neither is scheduled to work at Churchill Downs, Yakteen said. Both Taiba and Messier were trained by Bob Baffert prior to Baffert having to serve a 90-day suspension owing to a medication violation for Medina Spirit in last year’s Derby. That suspension ends July 2. Taiba, like Medina Spirit, is owned by Amr Zedan, who purchased Taiba as a 2-year-old in training last year for $1.7 million.