Messier Tunes Up for Santa Anita Derby

Runhappy Santa Anita Derby (G1) contender Messier , recently transferred from trainer Bob Baffert to his former assistant Tim Yakteen, breezed six furlongs the morning of March 27 in a bullet 1:11 2/5 at Santa Anita Park.

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"He worked lights out," Yakteen said of Messier. "We had Johnny (Velazquez) work him and he'll ride him in the (April 9) Santa Anita Derby. He gave us a thumbs up. The horse looked great, although he ended up with some unexpected company. We almost had a little training race out there."

Messier, owned in partnership by SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Robert Masterson, Jay Schoenfarber, Waves Edge Capital, Catherine Donovan, Golconda Stable, and Siena Farm, captured the Feb. 6 Robert B. Lewis Stakes (G3) by 15 lengths in his sole start this year. Due to Bob Baffert's two-year suspension from Churchill Downs Inc., Messier was ineligible to earn Road to the Kentucky Derby points with his Robert E. Lewis victory.

Yakteen, a 57-year-old native of Germany who assisted Baffert off and on for almost 10 years between a tour with the legendary Charlie Whittingham, also received promising 3-year-old Doppelganger  from the Baffert barn, who is preparing to compete in  the Arkansas Derby (G1) this upcoming Saturday at Oaklawn Park.

"Both horses came to me in good shape," said Yakteen, who began training solo in 2004. "They were always well cared for."