Taiba Turns in Lone Pre-Kentucky Derby Work

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Taiba Turns in Lone Pre-Kentucky Derby Work
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Photo: Ernie Belmonte
Taiba (outside) works in company with American Admiral April 28 at Santa Anita Park

The principal action April 28 for the May 7 Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) occurred more than 2,000 miles west of Churchill Downs, as Runhappy Santa Anita Derby (G1) winner Taiba  put in his lone work before the Run for the Roses.

Drayden Van Dyke was aboard the son of Gun Runner  , who worked in company with the 4-year-old American Admiral through six furlongs in 1:12 4/5 at Santa Anita Park.

"It was very straightforward," said trainer Tim Yakteen, who has taken over conditioning duties for Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert while Baffert is suspended due to the post-race positive of the late 2021 Kentucky Derby first-place finisher Medina Spirit, who was subsequently disqualified.

"He worked three-quarters from the five-eighths pole," Yakteen added. "It was a typical Taiba work and we accomplished what we wanted. I got him in 1:12 3/5 and out in 1:26. We're good."

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A $1.7 million purchase at The Gulfstream Sale, Fasig-Tipton's select 2-year-olds-in-training sale in South Florida, Taiba races under the colors of Zedan Racing Stables, the former owners of Medina Spirit. Mike Smith has the call in the Kentucky Derby.

Taiba, undefeated in two career starts, will be attempting to become the first horse since Leonatus in 1883 to win the Kentucky Derby in only his third start. After breaking his maiden by 7 1/2 lengths sprinting in the first week of March, the chestnut colt made his stakes and two-turn debut in the April 9 1 1/8-mile Santa Anita Derby. He handled the task to earn Derby points with acute professionalism, stalking the early pace before drawing clear of his stablemate Messier for a 2 1/4-length tally.

Both Taiba and Messier secured their starting slots in the Kentucky Derby with 100 and 40 points, respectively.

Yakteen plans to work Santa Anita Derby runner-up Messier  April 29, with both colts scheduled to fly from Los Angeles to Indianapolis May 1 and then van south to Churchill. Messier is another former Baffert trainee that was moved to Yakteen's care in order to be able to qualify for and run in the Derby.

Ontario-bred 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, last breezed April 23 over the Santa Anita oval. The Empire Maker  colt, a two-time graded stakes winner, drilled five-furlongs in :59 4/5 in his first work since the Santa Anita Derby.

"My general feeling is that both horses are doing really super (following the Santa Anita Derby)," Yakteen said. "They are both very professional and make my job easy."