Shadwell's Haikal Recovering From Knee Surgery

Shadwell Farm homebred Haikal, who missed last year's Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) due to a foot abscess, is currently recovering from knee surgery at Shadwell's Camden, S.C., training base.

"He jogged one mile for his first day back in training," said Kevin Kahkola, who trains Shadwell's young and laid-up horses before they are sent to their racecourse conditioners. "He is sound and happy and seemed happy to be back on the track." 

The 4-year-old son of Daaher raced twice in 2020, finishing second in a Jan. 5 allowance optional claiming race at Aqueduct Racetrack and then fifth in the Feb. 29 Gulfstream Park Mile Stakes (G2) at Gulfstream Park.

"Haikal returned to South Carolina on May 14 and has resumed training," said Rick Nichols, vice president and general manager of Shadwell's U.S. operations. "He came out of a work in mid-March with a small chip in his right knee and surgery was done on March 19. We are glad to get him back going. He is a really good horse. It will probably take Kevin about 60 days to get him ready to head back to the races."

Nichols confirmed that, like most of now-retired trainer Kiaran McLaughlin's former pupils, Haikal will be joining the barn of seven-time champion conditioner Todd Pletcher.

In seven starts, Haikal has proven himself a reliable sort for owner and breeder Shadwell, winning three races in a row after finishing second in his debut as a 2-year-old. He broke his maiden in December 2018 and went on to win last year's Jimmy Winkfield Stakes and the Gotham Stakes (G3) at Aqueduct. He finished a fast-closing third in the Wood Memorial Presented by NYRA Bets (G2), and earned enough points to place 10th on the Road to the Kentucky Derby prior to his scratch.

He has a record of 3-2-1 and earnings of $398,360. Out of the Distorted Humor  mare Sablah, he is a half brother to grade 1 winner Takaful.